Jtme II, 1874] 



NA TURE 



1 1 



specimens growing in the higher districts, at Vacoa and 

 Moka ; and a number of young trees were planted at 

 Curcpipe, of the success or failure of which, however, 

 nothing can yet be said. Besides the frequent occurrence 

 of devastating gale?, the drought exercises an evil influ- 

 ence on the Euialypiiis, which is proved from the fact 

 of tlie failure from this cause alone of 200 young trees 

 that were planted and a quantity of seed that was sown 

 last year on the signal mountains above Port Louis. As 

 avenue trees to be planted on each side of the streets 

 they are said to be the most unsuited of all tlie trees 

 kno'wn in the island. The streets of Port Louis arc, 

 moreover, too narrow or too much crowded with traffic to 

 admit of such planting. 



Above and beyond all these considerations it is the 

 opinion that no system of planting, whether of groups or 

 avenues, in the midst of the town, or of whole forests in 

 the outskirts, nor yet a system of sewers and surface 

 drains, would suffice to make Port Louis a healthy town. 

 A perfect system of subsoil drainage throughout is consi- 

 dered the only possible means of a permanent improve- 

 ment. The evil lies in the water, which soaks into the 

 heavy clay subsoil, and having no means of escape becomes 

 staenaiit and putrefies. John R. Jackson 



COGGIA 'S COMET 



THE following position of this comet was obtained 

 here this evening by micrometrical comparisons 

 with a star in the Bonn Catalogue. It should be pretty 

 exact : — 



June 9, at loh. 23m. 34s. mean time at Twickenham. 



R A 6h. 58m. 3 rigs. 



Decl -f 69" 2' 3"- 1 



The comet is rather brighter than Argelander's stars of 

 6th magnitude, and the tail may be traced about 2° from 

 the nucleus, which still presents a \ery stellar appear- 

 ance. 



The following orbit is the best I have yet seen, and was 

 calculated by myself from the Marseilles observation of 

 April 17, and two made at Mr. Bishop's observatory on 

 May 9 and June i ; all the small corrections taken into 

 account : — 

 Perihelion Passage, July, 8-2110 Greenwich mean time. 



Longitude of Perihelion ... 27047 13 ( Mean Equino.x, 



„ Ascending Node ... 118 24 33)' July o. 



Inclination to Ecliptic ... 65 51 31 



Perihelion distance o'67437 (the earth's mean 



distance = i) 



Heliocentric motion Direct. 



The comet is steadily increasing in brightness, as indi- 

 cated by theory. J. R. Hind 

 Mr. Bishop's Observatory, 



Twickenham, Tuesday night 



A'OTES 



We are informed that the whole of the large and valuable 

 collection of Natural History specimens procured by Signor 

 D'Albertis during liis recent travels in New Guinea has been pur- 

 chased by the Italian Government, and that Signor D'Albertis 

 himself will shortly return to the same isl.and to continue his 

 lesearchcs, which have already proved so important. 



At the last meeting of the Royal Geographical Society, held 

 on Monday, June l, Dr. Carpenter delivered a discourse entitled 

 "Further Researches in Oceanic Circulation," in continuation of 

 the communication he made to the Society on this subject four 

 years ago. We understand that this lecture will be published 

 in the Journal of the Society in full detad and with ample illus- 

 trations, and that it will contain a complete discussion of the 

 results of the Challenger Temperature-Suivey of the Atlantic. 



Mr. Clements R. M.\kkiiam, C.B., F.R.S., has been created 

 a Knight Commander of the Portuguese Order of Jesus Christ. 



The Swedish Order of the Pule Star has been conferred upon 

 Mr. Leigh Smith, the arctic voyager. 



At a Convocation of Durham University, held on June 2, 

 certain alterations in the regrdations were moved, the object o 

 which was to prescribe the standing and exercises requisite for the 

 academical rank of Associate in Physical Science, and of Me- 

 chanical, Mining, and Civil Ergincers, which would enable 

 students who had obtained the academical rank of Associate in 

 Physical Science to become admissible to the degree of Bachelor 

 of Science, provided not less than two years had intervened from 

 the time of their being made Associates, after passing an ex- 

 amination in not less than six of the following subjects : — I. Ma- 

 thematics (pure and applied) ; 2. Physics ; 3. Cliemistry ; 4. 

 Geology ; 5. Engineering ; 6. Biolofjy ; 7. Either Latin or 

 Greek ; 8. Either French or German ; the two last of these sub- 

 jects being compulsory. In title S, sec. I. of the regulations, it 

 was proposed to add the following clause : — " That students of 

 the Durham University College of Medicine, or of the Durham 

 University College of Physical Science at Newcaslle-on-Tj'ne, 

 may petition the University that terms kept by them at either of 

 these colleges, equivalent in duration to three terms kept by stu_ 

 dents in Arts at Durham, may count towards the degree of B. A. 

 provided that they shall have passed the first examination ap- 

 pointed for students in Arts, which really takes place at the 

 beginning of the second year, and that they shall not be ad- 

 mitted to the final examination for the degiee of B.A. unless they 

 have kept three terms at least by residence as students in Arts at 

 Durham." The alterations were assented to. 



Theke will be an election at Meiton College, OxforJ, in Oc- 

 tober next to two postmasterships, value 80/. per annum, tenable 

 for five years from election, or so long as the holder does not 

 accept any appointment incompatible with the full pursuance of 

 his University studie5. In the examination for these postmaster- 

 ships papers will be set in algebra, pure geometry, trigonometry, 

 theory of equations, and analytical geometry of two dimensions. 

 Candidates must not have exceeded four terms of University 

 standing. There is no limit of age. The examination will 

 commence on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 9 a.m. in Mevton College 

 Hall. Candidates are required to call on the \\'.irden on the 

 same day between 4 and 5 r.:u. 



ATthe election to Mathematical and Physical Science Postmaster- 

 ships in October, at Merton College, Oxford, an election will be 

 nude to two Physical Science Postmasterships, each of the value 

 of 80/. a year-, and tenable for five years from election, provided 

 that the person elected do not accept any appointment interfering 

 with the full course of University studies. There is no limit of 

 age, but candidates, if already members of the University, must 

 not have exceeded six terms from matriculation. The persons 

 elected, if not members of the Uiuversily, will bereqiured to pass 

 the University examination for r-esponsions within a year of 

 election. The sirbjecls of examiiration will be Chemistry and 

 Physics. There will be a practical examination in Chemistry. 

 Candidates will have opportunities of giving evidence of a know- 

 ledge of Biology ; but it must be borne in mind, that in such 

 cases the examiners will look for evidence of an acquaintance 

 with the principles of Chemistry and Physics equal in extent to 

 that vdiich is required in the Preliminary Ilonoirr Examination 

 in the Physical Science School. A paper will be set in Algebra 

 and Elementary Geometry, which, ceeterls paribus, will be of 

 weight in the election to the postmasterships. The examination 

 will commence onTrresday, Oct. 13, at 9 A.M. in Merlon College 

 Hall. Candidates are required to call on the Warden on the 

 same day between 4 and 5 I'.M. Further information may be 

 obtained from the Tutor in Physical Science. 



