ik oe 
ON ESTABLISHING A SOLAR OBSERVATORY IN AUSTRALIA. 133 
approached with a view to their carrying the intentions of the previous 
Coalition Cabinet into effect. 
It is understood that the Commonwealth Government contemplates 
the erection of a Solar Observatory upon a large scale, but it is unlikely 
that any further step will be taken before the British Association visits 
Australia next year, when, it is officially announced, a report embodying 
observations of the intended site which have been made for a period 
of more than a year will be presented and further advice sought. 
News has reached England of the offer by Mr. Cawthron, of Nelson, 
New Zealand, of 15,0001. to erect a Solar Observatory in the neigh- 
bourhood of that town. Miss Proctor, to whom belongs the immediate 
credit of obtaining the munificent offer, had previously lectured in 
Australia in support of the Solar Observatory to be established in 
that country. 
Need still exists for a Solar Observatory in lower southern latitudes 
than that of Nelson, New Zealand, and Mr. C. G. Abbot writes 
urging that the Australian Observatory shall undertake the study of 
Solar Radiation, for which he regards the conditions as favourable. 
In spite of the Government’s attitude towards the recent offer of 
apparatus, the Commonwealth will shortly accept delivery of the 
Farnham telescope. ‘This is the last of the three telescopes accepted 
in 1909 when the Commonwealth Government offered 100l. for its 
repair and alteration for Australian latitudes. A prominence spectro- 
scope has been added to it out of the funds provided. 
At the International Solar Union at Bonn in August 1913, it was 
proposed by Professor Campbell, Director of the Mount Hamilton 
Observatory, that the resolution passed at Meudon in 1907 be re- 
affirmed, and that the desirability of the erection of an Australian 
station be again urged upon the Commonwealth Government. 
Experiments for improving the Construction of Practical Stan- 
dards for Use in Electrical Measurements.—Report of the 
Committee, consisting of Lord RayLEicH (Chairman), Dr. 
R. T. GuazeBroox (Secretary), Professors J. Perry and 
W. G. Apams, Dr. G. Carzy Foster, Sir OLIVER Lopce, 
Dr. A.MurrHeEaD, Sir W. H. PReeEcE, Professor A. SCHUSTER, 
Dr. J. A. FueminG, Professor Sir J. J. THomson, Dr. W.N. 
SHaw, Dr. J. T. Botromiry, Rev. T. C. FITZPATRICK, 
Professor 8. P. THompson, Mr. J. RENNIE, Principal HE. H. 
GRIFFITHS, Sir ARTHUR RUcKER, Professor H. L. CALLENDAR, 
Professor T. MatTHer, and Mr. F. E. SMITH. 
THE republication of the Reports of the Committee from 1862 to 
1870 and from 1881 to 1912 is now complete. The volume consists 
of about 800 pages, with several plates, and is published by the 
Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Association. 
The Committee are indebted to Mr. R. K. Gray for a generous 
donation towards the expenses of the republication, and are glad to report 
