tive of the Royal Society of New Zealand, early in 1956, a vacancy existed on the Board. This has since been filled by the appointment to the position of Professor D'Arcy Walker, of the Physics Department of Victoria University College.

The Board wishes to express its appreciation of the interest taken in the affairs of the Observatory by Dr. Rogers.

Regular meetings of the Board have been held, and routine business has been the main occupation.

The building and equipment are in a satisfactory condition, and the deterioration noted in the lens of the main telescope in the last report has not increased. It would seem that such deterioration has at least been temporarily halted.

Educational Work. The Observatory has been open to the public every Friday evening except for the months of December and January. Demonstrations were given with the telescope on every possible occasion, and lectures illustrated by lantern slides and films have been given regularly. Attendances for the year totalled 2,752, giving a total of 20,622 since 1946. This completes a ten-year period.

Assistance has been given to amateur astronomical societies whenever possible, and popular articles supplied to the Press and magazines.

Solar Work. Regular projection drawings and photographs of the photosphere have been taken, as in previous years. Spectrohelioscope observations in the red line of hydrogen have been made as often as time and weather permit. The results of all these observations have been forwarded to the appropriate international authorities for inclusion in published records.

The sun has shown a rate of increase in activity much greater than was expected, with the result that maximum may be sooner than roughly predicted and may be of greater intensity than the last maximum.

Auroral Work. The studies of records for the past 25 years were completed with the aid of a contract with the U.S. Air Force At the end of the year the bulk of the work had been typed and cyclostyled.

Auroral activity at Campbell Island has shown a considerable rise in sympathy with the solar activity, but New Zealand observations are not yet very numerous.

Radio Disturbance Forecasts. Forecasts of general radio conditions have continued to be supplied to the appropriate radio authorities in New Zealand. The effects of sunspot conditions are now beginning to be apparent, although they are not yet the dominating influence.

General Astronomy. Stellar observations as required were carried out, but no regular programmes were followed during the year owing to weather and circumstances.

General. Information on a large variety of astronomical subjects was supplied to enquirers during the year.

Visitors. Overseas visitors to the Observatory were as follows: Mr. B. J. Seung (Korea), Mr. B. H. Blackman (England), Mr. Emar Surudimadja (Indonesia), Dr. Paul A. Siple (Little America and Arlington, U.S.A.), Major Murray A. Wiemer (U.S.A.F., Little America and Alexandria, U.S.A.). An informal visit was paid by the Hon. J. R. Marshall, M.P.

International Geophysical Year. A considerable amount of time has been taken up with preparations for work in connection with the International Geophysical Year. The Observatory is undertaking solar work, the organisation of auroral work and preparing to undertake moon position observations for longitude and geodesy under the direction of the U.S. Naval Observatory.

D. Walker.