REPORTS 



ON THE 



STATE OF SCIENCE. 



Establishing a Solar Observatory in Australia. — Report of the Com- 

 mittee, consisting of Sir David Gill (Chairman), Dr. W. G. 

 Duffield (Secretary), Dr. W. J. S. Lockyer, Mr. F. McClean, 

 and Professors A. Schuster and H. H. Turner. 



The movement has gained ground steadily during the past year, and 

 it is evident from the support it has received that much more wide- 

 spread sympathy has been accorded to it than could have been anti- 

 cipated at the outset. In Australia, where there exists a Solar Physics 

 Committee to co-operate with the British Association Committee to 

 promote the proposed Solar Observatory, the movement has been once 

 more the subject of a favourable resolution by the Council of the 

 Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, and public 

 attention has been recalled to the subject by the expedition of British 

 astronomers that passed through Australia en route for the solar eclipse 

 observation at Vavau, in particular by Dr. Lockyer and Father Cortie. 



In England the desirability of Australian co-operation in solar 

 research has been emphasised in several ways. Speaking at the Boyal 

 Society of Arts the Permanent Secretary of the Commonwealth Office 

 described Australia's eagerness to share in those pursuits of science in 

 which she is best fitted to participate, and referred to the action taken 

 by Mr. Deakin's Cabinet in offering the annual upkeep of this obser- 

 vatory provided that 10,000'. were forthcoming from private sources 

 for its equipment. The British Empire League has accorded the pro- 

 posal its hearty sympathy, and is now vigorously assisting the project 

 by an active appeal to its members and sympathisers to support the 

 movement. 



It seemed opportune to take advantage of Mr. Fisher's presence 

 in London to advance the observatory scheme, and a deputation was 

 formed to wait upon him. The Royal Astronomical Society appointed 

 the Astronomer-Royal, Sir David Gill, and Professor Newall to attend 

 this deputation, the British Empne League being represented by Lord 



