Report of Observatory Committee. 



Many of the nebulse observed and described in Herschel's cata- 

 logue presented a totally different appearance when viewed by the 

 superior power of Lord Rosse's, and many details were disclosed, 

 previously unknown and invisible in telescopes of lower power. 



The work, therefore, which is required to be done is " a minute re- 

 " examination of at least all the brighter nebulae of Sir John Her- 

 " schel's catalogues, embodied in drawings based on micrometer 

 " measures, and so correct that each of them may be referred to 

 " without doubt by future astronomers as an authentic record of the 

 " original's appearance at a given epoch. 



" Of such drawings we at present possess very few. Most of the 

 *' sketches by the Herschels are stated by them to be made merely by 

 " the eye, and even those that were accurately taken by them are 

 •' found to require amendment when compared with the appearances 

 " in more powerful telescopes." 



The work derives additional interest from the fact that many of 

 the most important nebulas, and those involving the solution of some 

 of the most perplexing problems in physical astronomy are to be 

 found in the southern hemisphere. 



The construction of a telescope sufficiently powerful to carry out 

 these observations efficiently, together with the expenses incident to 

 its transport to this colony, would involve an outlay of about £5,000, 

 and a committee of gentlemen, consisting of Lord Rosse, Dr. Robin- 

 son, Mr. Lassell and others, have expressed their willingness to su- 

 perintend it while in progress. 



A suitable transit circle, with other minor instruments, would cost 

 about £1,000 more, and the expense of the requisite buildings would 

 not exceed £1,500. We have reason to believe, however, that there 

 is already in the colony a transit circle which woidd be available for 

 this purpose, in which case the expense of this instrument might be 

 deducted from the estimate. 



In urging this recommendation on the attention of the govern- 

 ment we feel greater confidence from the fact that the Royal Society 

 of London and the British Association for the advancement of Sci- 

 ence have already preceded us in pressing the subject on the atten- 

 tion of the government at home.' 



The first memorial on the subject, from which some of the preceding 

 statements are quoted, was presented to Lord John Russell in 1850, 

 and after some delay, arising from the proposal not being in a suf- 

 ficiently definite form, a favourable answer was finally obtained from 

 Lord Aberdeen in 1854. 



Almost immediately afterwards the war commenced, and left no 

 funds at the disposal of the government at home for new scientific 

 undertakings. 



In this position the matter rests at present ; and we venture to 

 submit to the government that in the present flourishing condition of 

 the finances of this colony, it will be hailed with universal satisfaction 



