14 



NATURE 



fNoVEMBER l8, I915 



course is of four years' duration. The medical students 

 must take at least five years to qualify for a degree. 



The University of Hong Kong has already proved 

 itself successful for the following reasons : — (i) The 

 Chinese desire Western, and especially scientific, educa- 

 tion; (2) the situation of the University is in geo- 

 graphical China, but security of life, property, and 

 tenure of office is assured, because it is in a British 

 colony; (3) repeated assurances have been given that 

 the standard of the degree will be the same as that 

 of the University of London ; (4) the finances of the 

 University are in a sound condition ; this enables the 

 council to obtain a numerous and well-qualified staff. 

 It also makes possible suitable equipment and main- 

 tenance of the same. 



There is a very great demand in China for instruc- 

 tion in applied science. More than a half of the total 

 number of students in the University have selected 

 the engineering course. The excellent equipment, now 



That it will continue to lead in the development of scien- 

 tific work in the Far East is probable. It is a pattern 

 for the Chinese Government when the great problem of 

 education for the Republic is properly considered. Each 

 year the famine and floods take their toll of life. The 

 enormous mineral resources of the vast country remain 

 undeveloped. Only scientific knowledge can save the 

 nation. This fact is gradually becoming recognised. 

 It is believed that the University of Hong Kong will 

 train many of those who will take an active part in 

 the economic development of China. 



C. A. MiDDLETON Smith. 



the 



The Aurora Borealis of November 5. 



On November 5, from 6.30 to 7.40 p.m., long after 

 ast lingering trace of sunset had vanished, the 



heavens along the northern horizon were illuminated 

 as if by an approaching dawn. A luminous arch of 



Aurora of November 5, 1915, observed at Bramley, Yorkshire. 



installed in the fourteen laboratories used by engineer- 

 ing students, has proved a great attraction, A tribute 

 must be paid to numerous British engineering firms 

 who presented the engines, machines, and apparatus. 

 They proved their patriotism before the outbreak of the 

 war. 



The University is fortunate in its Principal and Vice- 

 Chancellor. Sir Charles Eliot, C.B., K.C.M.G., etc., 

 has an international reputation as a scholar, diplo- 

 matist, and administrator. He is a man of wide sym- 

 pathies, and has obtained the confidence of those 

 interested in educational affairs in China. 



It would not be possible to be optimistic concerning 

 the future of the modern universities in China were 

 it not for the pioneer work of this British Universit}^ 

 NO. 2403, VOL. 96] 



irregular shape, pale rose-lemon in colour, fluttered 

 conspicuously as though agitated by a wind, portions 

 moving north and south, others east and west, and 

 growing and fading in intensity alternately. Between 

 6.50 and 7 a beautiful series of rays was manifested, 

 projected apparently in front of the arch as shown in 

 the accompanying illustration. Each ray, which was 

 visible for not more than half a minute, faded away, to 

 be as quickly replaced by others. They exhibited a 

 slow bodily movement to the left, possessing a rotary 

 motion, just as would the teeth of a revolving wheel. 

 The arch itself was situated N.N.W., as will be seen 

 from the stars shown in the illustration. The stars 

 shone uninterruptedly through the entire luminosity. 

 The temperature was 33° F., and the wind N.N.W. 



