46 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE.— 1915. 



Professor Abbot said that prior to ten years ago no knowledge 

 existed of the energy of the sun, or of the intensity of its radiation. 

 Its variation ranged to as high as 5 and 10 per cent. Solar observa- 

 tories had been established in California and Algeria, and they should be 

 muhlphed in different parts of the globe. In Austraha there was a 

 clear, unvarying transparency in the air which was particularly adapt- 

 able. It was hoped that the work would be extended to South America, 

 Africa, and India. The approximate cost of installing radiation appara- 

 tus at the Australian statioii was 2,000L, and the maintenance about 

 1,300L a year. 



Sir Oliver Lodge urged that if the work was to be attacked in 

 Austraha it should be done thoroughly, and emphasised the desirability 

 of associating laboratory work with that of solar observation. The 

 British Association for the Advancement of Science had for many years 

 strongly supported the institution of solar research in Australia, and it 

 was a matter of great satisfaction that there was now a prospect of the 

 fulfilment of the international scheme. 



Professor Duffield outlined the support already accorded by the 

 Commonwealth towards the scheme for the institution of solar work in 

 Australia, referring in particular to the support given by Mr. Mahon and 

 Mr. Deakin, the latter of whom in 1909 offered 1,500?. per annum 

 towards this institution if the equipment were forthcoming from other 

 sources. The Commonwealth had subsequently accepted the telescope 

 offered by Mr. Oddie, of Ballarat, and the Farnham telescope. Tire 

 former had been installed at Canberra and the latter had now been 

 brought to Australia, and, on receiving the assurance that the Govern- 

 ment intended to proceed with the project at an early date, the instru- 

 ment would be handed over to the Commonwealth. 



A sum of money amounting to upwards of 1,500Z. had been sub- 

 scribed towards the purchase of other apparatus for the Solar Observa- 

 tory; this had been offered to the Commonwealth, but for some reason 

 had not been accepted. Should there be any disposition on the part 

 of the Commonwealth to undertake to make use of this apparatus, the 

 offer of it would be repeated. He did not believe that the institution of 

 a Solar Observatory in New Zealand should deter the Commonwealth 

 Government from undertaking this work, since both institutions were 

 required. 



The Hon. Alfred Deakin (late Prime Minister of Australia) stated 

 that he was in sympathy with the objects of the deputation. When 

 the matter was brought before him on a previous occasion he had 

 supported it, as other speakers had stated. He was not sure what the 

 Prime Minister would feel should be done in view of the situation 

 created by the war, but trusted that all that was possible would be 

 done to further this scheme. 



Mr. Joseph Cook (the Prime Minister), in reply, said that he would 

 like to accede to the wishes of the deputation at once ; it appeared to 

 him that the matter was one desei-ving of attention, and if times were 

 normal he would not hesitate to have a sum placed upon the Estimates 

 for the establishment and upkeep of such an institution. It had been 

 part of the pohcy of the Government to consider whether they could do 



