Mav i6, 1907] 



NA TURE 



69 



;ooci/. to the endowment fund. The necessary alterations 

 to the buildings were carried out at the expense of Mr. 

 James Coats, who between 1S92 and 1898 increased the 

 fund by booo/., making it lo.oooi. in all, and also made 

 important additions to the equipment. Milne and Ewing 

 seismographs, magnetometers, and other instruments were 

 also ordered, rendering the observatory one of the most 

 compietelv furnished in the kingdom. The seismographic 

 observations for the year 1906 show that eighty-two earth 

 movements were recorded. 



Tfie following results, taken from the meteorological 

 observations for the twenty-two years 1885-1906, are 

 interesting : — highest reading of barometer 31.002 inches, 

 on January 9, 1896 ; lowest, 27'584 inches, on December 

 8, 1886; ma.ximum temperature, 8S°-6, on September i, 

 1906 : lowest, 4°-8, on February 10, 1S95 (i^-o was quoted 

 by the institution on January 17, 1881). The mean 

 annual rainfall is 3829 inches, the average number of 

 rain-days being 212 ; the rainfall in 1903 was 6957 inches, 

 and in 1896 only 24-45 inches. Polar winds prevail, on 



appointment of a reader in fcn-stry for a period of five 

 years from October i, 1907. The annual stipend is 400;. 

 Candidates are requested tu send in their applications, with 

 such testimonials as they think lit, to the Vice-Chancellor 

 on or before July 15. 



The syndicate appointed to obtain plans for the extension 

 of the Cavendish Laboratory has obtained tenders from 

 nine firms. The lowest tender, 7135!. (including a pro- 

 visional sum of 500/. for the cost of heating), was that of 

 Mr. W. .Sindall, of Cambridge. The syndicate now re- 

 commends that the Vice-Chancellor be authorised to accept 

 the tender of Mr. .Sindall. The cost of this extension will 

 be largely met by Lord Raylcigh's munificent gift to the 

 University of the Nobel prize. 



The syndicate appointed to obtain plans for the extension 

 of the chemical laboratory has laid its scheme before the 

 Senate. It is proposed to fill in the gap which now exists 

 along Pembroke Street between the medical school and 

 the existing chemical laboratory with a three-storied build- 

 ing. This will provide for a large increase to the 



The Coals Obs. 



ilory, Paisley. 



an average, on 131 days, and equatorial on 206 days in 

 the year. 



The meteorological observations have from the beginning 

 been taken by the curator, Mr. Donald Maclean, formerly 

 assistant to Prof. Grant, at the Glasgow Observatory. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



CAMnRiiiGE. — Dr. A. Hill has announced his intention of 

 resigning the mastership of Downing College some time 

 during the long vacation. Dr. Hill succeeded the late Dr. 

 Burkitt some nineteen years ago. He is lecturer in 

 advanced human anatomy, and is the sole representative 

 of medicine and natural science amongst the heads of 

 houses. 



The general board of studies will shortly proceed to the 



NO. 1959, VOL. 76] 



elementary laboratory, a number of s[niiller laboratories, 

 and a lecture-room to seat 150 students. The cost is 

 estimated at 13,500/., and in view of the facts that in the 

 last three years the average attendance at the Liniversity 

 laboratory has increased from less than 200 students to 

 more than 300 a term, and that Gonville and Caius College 

 proposes to close its laboratory next summer, the build- 

 ing of the extension is urgent. The syndicate learns with 

 regret that Prof. Liveing, who was elected in 1861, pro- 

 poses to vacate the chair of chemistry some time next year. 

 During the forty-six years he has been professor, the study 

 of chemistry has made great advances in the University. 

 Under his care and control the new chemical laboratory 

 was built in 1S87. The success which has attended the 

 school at Cambridge is largely due to his untiring energy 

 and his unselfish devotion to his subject. 



The Common .Seal of the Lniversity has been affixed 

 in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor to ; — (i) the certifi- 



