94 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [April 
the acceptance of this generous offer possible, and as a consequence 
the year 1915 was spent by the writer at the Lick Observator}q on 
Mount Hamilton, California. The fellowship was a very liberal one, and 
included the privilege of a free residence at the Lick Observatory. In 
addition to the full facilities for astronomical research afforded by this 
famous observatory, opportunities were available for meeting most of the 
leading astronomers of the United States and Canada, and at the meetings of 
the American Astronomical Society held in California in 1915 the founda¬ 
tions were laid for the offer which has now culminated. 
In the earlier stages of the offer idle late Hi chard C. Maclaurin, one of 
our most distinguished New Zealand graduates, and at that time President 
of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, worked hard to 
induce its acceptance by New Zealand ; and no finer memorial to this 
brilliant New-Zealander could be made than the erection of a national 
observatory in New Zealand. The offer itself is due to Dr. Frank 
Schlesinger, the Director of the Yale Observatory, who since 1915 has been 
constantly interesting himself in the scheme, and upon funds becoming 
available at Yale he was able to make the following definite offers to New 
Zealand :— 
(1.) To provide a small photographic telescope of 6 in. aperture, com¬ 
plete with its mounting, driving-clock, and the plate-glass photo¬ 
graphic plates. The telescope is to be used to photograph the 
southern sky for the purpose of compiling zone catalogues of 
stars, and when this is done, in a few years, the telescope is to 
be returned to Yale, unless other arrangements are made for 
its future use in New Zealand. The staff and buildings are to 
be provided by New Zealand. 
(2.) To provide a large photographic refracting telescope, the optical 
parts alone of which will cost £5,000. The complete telescope, 
with its mounting, driving-clocL, &c., will therefore be worth 
some £20,000. With this great telescope Yale will send to 
New Zealand two American astronomers to undertake urgently 
required observations on the southern stars, and these gentlemen 
will use the telescope for about one-half of its available time. 
It is intended by Yale to leave this telescope permanently in 
New Zealand, provided that a satisfactory site can be obtained, 
and that New Zealand is prepared to assist. The assistance 
required from New Zealand would include land, foundations, 
and building for the telescope, and offices and residences for the 
astronomers, at an estimated cost of, say, £20,000. New Zealand 
would also be asked to supply the additional staff to use the 
telescope for the rest of the time. For this it is estimated that 
about £5,000 or £6,000 per annum would be required. 
These offers are munificent, and never before has New Zealand been 
offered such valuable gifts for astronomy. Much interest has already been 
taken in the offers by citizens in different parts of New Zealand, and it is 
confidently expected that when appeals for funds are made they will meet 
with a ready response. The recently formed New Zealand Astronomical 
Society* is taking an active interest in the project, and is prepared to accept 
donations, which may be forwarded to the society, care of the Hector 
Observatory, Wellington. 
* See p. 95. 
