254 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [July 
The Carter Bequest. 
Sir, These words will not convey much to the majority of the people 
of Wellington, though this bequest was made for the benefit of Wellington, 
having for its object the erection of an astronomical observatory in or near 
Wellington. The words of the bequest are as follows : “ As to the residue 
and remainder (if any) of the said net proceeds of the sale, conversion, and 
getting-in of my estate aforesaid, my trustee shall transfer the same to the 
Governors for the time being of the New Zealand Institute at Wellington, 
to form a nucleus of a fund for the erection in or near Wellington aforesaid, 
and the endowment of a professor and staff, of an astronomic observatory 
fitted with telescope and other suitable instruments for the public use and 
benefit of the colony, and in the hope that such fund may be augmented 
by gifts from private donors, and that the observatory may be subsidized 
by the Colonial Government; and without imposing any duty or obligation 
m regard thereto I would indicate my wish that the telescope may be 
obtained from the factory of Sir H. Grubb, in Dublin." 
The Governors of the New Zealand Institute, who were some years ago 
approached to have something done with the fund, considered that they 
were unable to do anything on account of its smallness, then amounting to 
some £2,000, and did not take any steps to augment “ the nucleus " pro¬ 
vided by the bequest. It was thought that the use of the word “ professor " 
by Mr. Carter meant that the proposed observatory must be in some 
way connected with the University; and at one time it was thought 
that use might be made of the Victoria University College, one of whose 
professors might be made Professor of Astronomy. But nothing has 
been done, and the fund now (at 31st December, 1917) amounts to 
£4,138 5s. lid. This sum is surely enough to go to work with. Astro¬ 
nomers in other parts of the world would hail with pleasure the erection 
of a properly equipped observatory here, to take up the work on the 
southern stars and to form another link in the chain of the world’s 
stations for observing the sun. helping to keep the luminary under 
continuous observation. 
In 1904 Sir Howard Grubb quoted the cost of an observatory building 
equipped with certain instruments, such as provided by him for the inter¬ 
national survey of the heavens, as follows : “A dome 23 ft. in diameter 
to cover equatorial stand on which would be fixed a 15 in. visual refractor 
and a photographic doublet 10 in. aperture ; the cost of the whole, £2,600." 
This gives some idea of the cost of a certain equipment. Such equipment 
might, of course, be varied to suit the work to be done in conjunction with 
other observatories. 
Surely the Carter Bequest should now be brought into use, and if the 
word “ professor ” is in the way the Supreme Court might be approached 
to sanction a scheme for the use of the money for “ the public use " as 
required by the testator. 
The Government has appointed a Government Astronomer, and surely 
might be asked to give something by way of subsidy, as suggested by 
Mr. Carter; and the public might be asked to give subscriptions and 
donations so as to build up a fund to provide an income for the purpose of 
the upkeep of the observatory. 
The Astronomical Section of the Wellington Philosophical Society has 
done something to provide for the public in the matter of astronomy by 
the erection of a small observatory at Kelburn, but has not been able to 
do much owing to the shortness of funds ; money is much wanted to 
complete the equipment, and their small 5 in. refractor is not sufficient 
for much research work. C. P. Powles. 
