BY H. C. KU-SSELL, F.E.S., C.M.G. 27 



"but before going on to these, I may point out that Hobart, 

 in addition to its clear atmosphere, possesses in its high 

 southern latitude a great advantage over any other available 

 place for the new Observatory in the Southern Hemisphere. 

 It is true that a slightly higher latitude is available in New 

 Zealand, but the climate is less favourable, and the means to 

 build an Observatory are apparently not forthcoming, and if 

 one were erected in New Zealand it would no doubt be at 

 Wellington. So that, practically, Hobart not only possesses 

 the means, but also the best available site in the Southern 

 Hemisphere for the Leake Observatory. 



The extreme south part of the Milky Way is for the 

 Astronomer an almost unexplored mine of wealth, and he will 

 be in the best position to acquire the gems which it contains 

 who has the greatest southern latitude for his instruments, 

 because these parts of the heavens will come nearest to his 

 zenith, and therefore suffer least by the Astronomer's 

 greatest enemy, the impurity of the atmosphere. Admitting, 

 then, the advantage of position, about which there can be no 

 doubt, it may be pointed out that the time is opportune, and 

 to establish the Observatory now would be gratifying to 

 Astronomers generally, because the complete scheme for 

 carrying out the work arranged by the Astronomical Con» 

 ference in Paris, in 1887, according to which 18 Observa- 

 tories agreed to divide the work of making a photographic 

 chart of the whole heavens, has been, to some extent marred 

 by the political troubles in South America, owing to which 

 three Observatories there have been unable to take up their 

 part of the work. And the question is pressing upon the 

 general committee in Paris, — How shall that portion of the 

 photographic work which South America undertook be pro- 

 vided for ? Under these circumstances the establishment of 

 an Observatory to take up even apart of the work, would, by 

 that fact alone, be brought into immediate prominence and 

 earn the good wishes of all Astronomers. 



But, in addition to the honour which would come in this 

 way to Tasmania, if the work is undertaken by the Univer- 

 sity in co-operation with the Leake trustees, as I understand 

 is proposed, the University of Tasmania will be the only one 

 in Australasia having a complete School of Astronomy ; that 

 is, one in which the theory and 'practice of the science are 

 taught, and it is natural to expect that students who want to 

 take up the study, either as a mental culture, or with the 

 object of making use of it practically in surveying or in a 

 private Observatory, will naturally go to the most complete 

 school. And if the teaching in such a school is thrown open 

 to the public, so that on payment of fees non-matriculated 

 students can attend, I am sure that a number of persons will 



