85 



PRACTICAL ASTRONOMY IN TASMANIA, AND A 



PROPOSAL FOR A SCHOOL THEREOF. 



By Professor Alex. McAulay, M.A. 



(Bead Se]jtemhtr 8th, 1902.) 



The leading English scientific newspaper "Nature," 

 dated 24th July, 1902 (p. 304), has a paragraph on the pre- 

 sent condition of meteorology m Australia. It is worth read- 

 ing:— 



"We understand from, recent Queensland newspapers 

 that it has been determined to abolish the 

 Weather Bureau of that colony as from the 30th 

 ult., and that the services of Mr. C. L. Wragge and 

 his special staff have been dispensed with. In a 

 letter addressed by the Premier of Queensland to 

 the Federal Prime Minister it is pointed out that 

 this apparently retrograde step is owing to the 

 urgent necessity for reducing in every 

 branch of the public service the estimates of expen- 

 diture of the State, and that it is one of the "most 

 unfortunate"' results of the large deficit in the 

 revenue brought about by drought and other 

 causes. Prior to federation, the Weather Bureau 

 formed part of the Post and Telegrapli Depart- 

 ment of Queensland, and all telegrams and corres- 

 pondence passed free. But during the last fifteen 

 months the Federal Government has charged for 

 these communications at the rate of about £4,000 

 a year, which expense cannot be borne any longer 

 by the Queensland Government. The Premier 

 writes that he feels sure the States in general will 

 welcome any reasonable suggestions for a continu- 

 ance of the work of the Bureau under federal con- 

 trol. We may, therefore, hope that the existing 

 instruments and stations will be utilised, as far as 

 practicable, in the interest of meteorological 

 science. Truly the Colonies are in this respect fol- 

 lowing the mother country, and we may soon ex- 

 jDect the Empire, so active in neglecting science, to 

 be the laughing stock of civilised peoples." 

 Our meteorological service has been, as you all know, 

 closely connected with the Queensland one, to the advantage 

 of both. 



Apt^arently it is the federation of the States that has 

 brought about the disastr^^ub check to what is both a com- 

 mercial and scientific work in this part of the world, and I 

 think you will all agree that it is the Federal Government 



