Notes

Abstract

To commemorate the meeting of the British Association in South Africa, a scheme has been formulated to found a British Association medal for South African students. This announcement was made by Prof. Darwin at the close of his presidential address at Johannesburg. A visit was paid to the Johannesburg Observatory on August 30, and the opportunity was taken of pointing out to Lord Selborne the suitability of the site for a fully-equipped observatory and the necessity for more astronomical work in the southern hemisphere. Referring to this suggestion in the course of his speech introducing Prof. Darwin as president of the association, Lord Selborne is reported by the Times correspondent to have said that “he greatly regretted he had been obliged to refuse the only request that the association had made to him—namely, to find funds for the establishment of a proper observatory in Johannesburg. He was obliged to say that all the revenue they at present possessed was required for the development of their material resources and means of communication; but where the Government was powerless, what a magnificent opportunity there was for a patriotic Transvaal. For a site in the purest atmosphere, 2000 feet above the highest observatory now existing, only 10,000l. was required. There they might establish a telescope which would help observers in the southern hemisphere to compete with the astronomers of the northern hemisphere. The site was there, and it was already occupied by a perfectly equipped meteorological observatory.” All the papers on South African matters read during the meeting are to be published in a separate volume by the South African Association for the Advancement of Science. At the closing meeting, held on September 1, Prof. Ray Lankester was elected president of the association for 1906.