Canterbury ,PJdlosophical Institute, 461 



Some of our members have had this object at heart for a long time, and the 

 approaching transit of Yenus made them the more anxious to take steps 

 towards the accomplishment of their wishes. The 16tli December being the 

 twenty-first anniversary of the arrival of the Canterbury settlers was deemed 

 a suitable time for moving in the matter. Accordingly, at a most influential 

 meeting held on that day, resolutions were passed, and a committee appointed 

 for carrying out the desired object. The committee has since had the satisfac- 

 tion of learning that while the subject was under consideration here the 

 Imperial Government was communicating with the Colonial Government at 

 Wellington on the same subject, and suggesting Canterbury as the probable 

 site, and that Dr. Hector is of opinion that Canterbury, from its position and 

 climate, is the most suitable place for the observatory. In furtherance of the 

 object the Provincial Council has voted a sum of £1,000 for the establishment 

 of an observatory, and £-200 for providing a suitable site, on condition that 

 the Colonial Government will undertake the maintenance of the institution. 

 A farther sum of £200, contributed by subscribers, has been placed at the 

 disposal of the Astronomer Koyal, to be used by him as he may think 

 expedient for promoting the object of the subscribers. We have good grounds 

 for hoping that out- efforts will be liberally supported by the Colonial, and 

 perhaps also by the Imperial Government. 



I need not point out the great advantages to the cause of science that must 

 result from the establishment of an observatory, and from the residence 

 amongst us of a professor whose observations and lectures would extend the 

 knowledge of the oldest and grandest of the sciences, and who would moreover 

 indirectly benefit the colony by bringing us into friendly relationship with 

 other scientifi.c bodies. Another very important consideration connected with 

 the subject is the incalculable advantage that may be derived by our youth 

 from having access at all times to means of information and assistance in the 

 study of this most attractive science, comprehending as it does a knowledge of 

 mathematics, without which no great advance can be made in that or any 

 other of the higher departments of science. 



The actual amount of work done during the session has not been large. 

 Thirteen papers were read — some of them of considerable interest. I should 

 be encroaching on the privilege of his Excellency Sir George Bowen were I to 

 enter into a detailed consideration of these papers. They, as well as the 

 papers read before the other affiliated societies, will, doubtless, be adverted to 

 by his Excellency in his annual address. One of them, a very clear and 

 practical paper, by Mr. Dobson, upon "The Influence of Railway Gauge upon 

 the Constructive Cost and Working Expenses of Railways," will form a 

 supplement to an interesting paper on " The Political Economy of Railways," 

 by his Honour Mr. Justice Chapman, read before the Otago Institute, in 



