1921 .] 
Astronomical Notes. 
95 
The New Zealand Astronomical Society.* 
By C. E. Adams. 
For a number of years interest in astronomy has been growing in New 
Zealand, and there are already quite a number of Fellows of the Royal 
Astronomical Society, London, and of the British Astronomical Asso¬ 
ciation in the Dominion. In addition, there are many other amateur 
astronomers scattered over the Dominion, as well as four local astronomical 
societies. Two of these, at Wellington and Dunedin, are branches of the 
Wellington Philosophical Society and of the Otago Institute respectively, 
while the other two, at Wanganui and New Plymouth, are independent 
societies. 
It was therefore considered desirable to consolidate the astronomical 
interests of the Dominion, and to this end steps have been taken to form 
the New Zealand Astronomical Society. 
A circular was accordingly issued by the promoters (Dr. C. E. Adams and 
Mr. A. C. Gifford) to individuals interested in astronomy, and the response 
was so good that the society was duly constituted in November, 1920, with 
a membership of about seventy. 
It is interesting to note that the society was formed just a century after 
the Royal Astronomical Society of London, and that among the original 
members of the New Zealand Society is Mr. C. W. Babbage, of Wanganui, 
whose grandfather, Charles Babbage, was one of the founders of the Royal 
Astronomical Society. 
The New Zealand Astronomical Society follows the precedents of similar 
societies in Great Britain, Canada, the United States of North America, and 
elsewhere, in that it is a society of individuals, and does not interfere in any 
way with the local astronomical societies. 
The need for such a society is acutely felt in dealing with scientific 
bodies both in and out of New Zealand. It is hoped that the society will 
be invaluable in promoting the association of all those interested in astro¬ 
nomy, that it will aid in the circulation of astronomical information, that 
it will increase popular interest in astronomy, and that it will contribute 
to the advancement of knowledge. 
Provision is to be made in the rules of the society for it to receive 
gifts and own property, and it is hoped that citizens will follow the 
excellent examples of other countries of making gifts to the society for 
the establishment of a national observatory. 
As those interested in astronomy are scattered all over New Zealand, 
it is felt that early steps should be taken to issue a journal as a help to 
observers. Such a journal will be a valuable asset in obtaining exchanges 
from other societies, and will help in building up an astronomical library 
for New Zealand. With a view to determining the scope of the journal, 
members have been invited to indicate the class of information desired. 
Members have been asked to nominate a provisional council of five 
from the members of the society. The duty of the council will be to draw 
up rules and regulations for submission to each member for approval or 
alteration. 
Those interested in the society may obtain further information from 
the promoters, care of the Hector Observatory, Wellington. 
* Paper read before the New Zealand Institute Science Congress, January, 1921. 
