26 



O^ THE PROPOSED LEAKE SCHOOL OF' 

 PEACTICAL ASTEONOMY. 



By H, C. Russell, F.R.S., C.M.G-., Government 



Astronomer op New South Wales, 



Corresponding Member, Eoyal Society of Tasmania. 



During my visit to Hobart in January last I was struck 

 with the brightness and translucency of the atmosphere, and 

 it was evident to me that the weather of the fortnight I was 

 in Hobart would have enabled me to do as much as I had 

 done in Sydney during the preceding two months. And, in 

 conversation with some friends, I expressed regret that such 

 fine skies for the Astronomer should not be taken advantage 

 of, and an Astronomical Photographic Observatory estab- 

 lished. I was told that Tasmania, like other parts of the 

 world, was passing through a period of commercial depres- 

 sion, and the Government did not seem to be disposed to add 

 to expenditure by starting an Observatory, but that the late 

 Mr. Leake had left a sum of £10,000 for the foundation of a 

 School of Astronomy, and it was hoped that an Observatory 

 would be established very soon. 



And it seems to me most fitting that the colony in which 

 this noble bequest was made should be the first to take it up 

 and benefit by its provisions ; and the establishment of a Tas- 

 manian University will, with the co-operation of the Senate, 

 enable the trustees to carry out in a most satisfactory manner 

 the wishes of the testator, who indeed seems to have contem- 

 plated such a natural combination as that now proposed 

 between his trustees and the Senate of the University for the 

 establishment of a School of Astronomy. 



Such an addition as this to the functions of the University 

 would be an immense advantage. In the first place, it will 

 add to the curriculum another subject which students may 

 take up, either as technical education or as a most valuable 

 mental training in a general course of study. Next, it will 

 induce some students to come to the University in order to 

 attend the lectures on Astronomy, and if provision is made for 

 non-matriculated students to attend the teaching in practical 

 Astronomy on payment of fees, there can be no doubt that 

 many will enrol their names. 



The desire to contribute in some way towards the consum- 

 mation of the proposed Observatory scheme, which seems to me 

 so desirable, and so easy of attainment with the means at 

 command, has induced me to make the following suggestions ^ 



