’’RAINDROPS, TEST TUBES AND GALAXIES” ....................0 O 0 ...................... A History of Astronomy in Natal, with references to the allied Sciences of Meteorology, Chemistry etc., From 1850 to 1982 ....................0 O 0 ...................... By M A Gray then Secretary and P.R.O. of the Natal Centre Astronomical Society of Southern Africa Originally researched & written in Durban, Natal in 1980 (See Author’s Notes) 2 .............o O o .............. AUTHOR’S NOTES This work began in August 1975 and was originally completed in 1980. The original was typed on a manual typewriter and, although a few photocopies were made, the work lay dormant for many years until it was felt that a “Re-type” onto modem computerised equipment was desirable. This has now been carried out and the following pages are the result, together with some editing and rewording of the original text. Grateful thanks must go to Dr Ian Glass of the S.A.A.O. for carrying out considerable proof reading and corrections during 2010. Owing to the lapse of some thirty years since the original was completed, many of the personages mentioned about in the latter stages of “BOOK ONE” have since died and events which have taken 3 place since 1980 have not been included other than reference to the Re-enactment of the 5th December 1882 Transit of Venus a century later, and the exhibition which was held in the Local History Museum to mark the end of the researches. It must also be noted that extracts from various documents and newspapers (normally here in italic script) have been copied verbatim. No attempts have been made to change the wording, spellings or styles then used. ------------- o O o -------------- This work is dedicated to the memory of a man with whom I would have wished to know, and also with whom it would have been a privilege to work : EDMUND NEVILL NEVILL (NEISON) F.R.A.S., F.R.C.S., Government Astronomer to the Colony of Natal from 1882 to 1912 4 ------------- o O o -------------- INTRODUCTION &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& The story behind the compilation of this work, started with a telephone call during August 1975, from Dr B Jones of the Department of Land Survey, University of Natal, Durban. He stated that, during a clear out of odds and ends in their laboratory, he had come across an interesting old “Transit Telescope” and asked if someone would care to have a look at it. I went to see it and discovered that it appeared to have been one which was originally used in the old Durban Observatory almost a century earlier. After discussion, the instrument in its large wooden box, was then transferred to the Local History Museum in Durban and into the capable hands of the Curator, Mrs Daphne Strutt. She in turn, contacted me a short while later and asked if we (The Natal Centre of the Astronomical Society of S.A.) would be prepared to find out something more about the instrument. Her only records of the old Durban Observatory consisted of a yellowed sheet of paper on which had been typed out a short weather report from the then Government Astronomer. On behalf of the Natal Centre, I agreed and the researches uncovered a whole mass of information, not only about the transit instrument itself, but also the events leading up to the erecting and equipping of the Observatory, the work carried out there by Natal’s only Government Astronomer, Mr E N Nevill (who used the name “NEISON” for his work). This included the work as Government Assayer, Chemist, 5 compiler of the Natal Tide Tables, part-time Coroner, instigator of the Time Signal system (still in use today) and the “father of Meteorology” in Natal. Personal travels took me back to the days of the “Byrne Settlers” near Richmond, Natal (1849) and still further researches revealed the story of the start of the “Amateur Astronomical Society” and most of the history of its successor, the Natal Centre. Historical Durban personalities - many of whose names have been lent to main thoroughfares in Durban and elsewhere - were involved and recorded for posterity. The “chase” was fascinating, the information unearthed - highly interesting to come across, and the many meetings with people in libraries and archives, most rewarding. Having reached the conclusion that to try to unearth yet more information would involve too much further time and detail, the time has now come (1980) to set out this History in what is hoped to be a readable and interesting manner. Hopefully, my efforts have been successful. M A Gray Durban, Natal, 1980 Revised in Cape Town 1997 & 1998 and finally updated in Cape Town in 2012 6 ------------- o O o -------------- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ************************ The Author wishes to acknowledge and place on record his sincere thanks and appreciation to the following persons and organisations who gave freely of their time, encouragement and assistance during the period that this work was being researched : The late Mrs Daphne Strutt - Curator of the Local History Museum, Aliwal Street, Durban Dr Patrick Moore - “Farthings”, Selsey, England The Staff o f : The Observatory Library, S A.A.O., Cape Town The Don Africana Library, Durban The Natal Archives, Pietermaritzburg The Natal Society Library, Pietermaritzburg The Municipal Records Department, Durban The newspapers - “The Daily News”, Field Street, Durban - “The Natal Mercury”, Devonshire Place, Durban - “The Natal Witness”, Longmarket Street, Pietermaritzburg Miss Maud Nevill for permission to record extracts from her father’s diaries The Librarian, Natal College of Advanced Technical Education, Durban (The Natal Technikon) 7 The Staff of the Deeds Office, Pietermaritzburg The Staff of the Surveyor General’s Office, Pietermaritzburg The Editors (past and present) of the “Monthly Notes” of the Astronomical Society of S Africa The Secretary of the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (C.S.I.R.), Pretoria The late Mr Jan Hers, formerly of the National Physics Laboratory, Pretoria The Killie Campbell Africana Museum and Research Library, Durban The author’s then secretary, Mrs G Browne who had the unenviable task of typing the first book and Miss C Hamblin who typed the second book. AND many other individuals who, by having taken the trouble to put pen to paper, caused their thoughts to be recorded for posterity, thus making this task a much easier and exciting one than would otherwise have been the case. Also to the many members of the “Natal Centre” who gave enormous encouragement to ensure that the task was completed in good time for the Centenary in 1982. FINALLY, to my late wife Ann and family who put up with many interruptions in our private life whilst the research was being carried out. ...................oOo CONTENTS Frontispiece Author’s Notes Dedication Introduction Acknowledgements List of Contents BOOK ONE : Page numbers 9 1. Setting the scene 1 - 77 2. Things start moving 8 -2 2 3. Enter Nevill / Neison 23- 31 4. The Natal Observatory 32- 39 5. Normal and Additional Duties 40- 48 6. Astronomy Slows, Chemistry Starts 49- 59 7. Marriage, Children & Other Events 60- 70 8. Laboratory &c. Work From 1895 to 1900 71 - 78 9. The First years of the Twentieth Century 79 - 88 10. Amateurs, Storms & the Church 89- 99 11. The Final Years and Closure in 1912 100 - 109 Index to Book One 110 - 115 BOOK TWO : Page numbers 1. The Nevill Diaries - Year 1884 117- 125 2. The Nevill Diaries - Year 1885 126- 129 3. The Nevill Diaries - Year 1886 130- 133 4. The Nevill Diaries - Year 1887 134- 136 5. The Nevill Diaries - Year 1888 137- 140 Diary for 1889 is missing 6. The Nevill Diaries - Year 1890 141 - 144 7. The Nevill Diaries - Year 1891 145- 148 8. The Nevill Diaries - Year 1892 149- 151 9. The Nevill Diaries - Year 1893 152- 154 10. The Nevill Diaries - Year 1894 155- 158 11. The Nevill Diaries - Year 1895 159- 161 12. The Nevill Diaries - Year 1896 162- 163 13. The Nevill Diaries - Year 1897 164- 166 14. The Nevill Diaries - Year 1898 167- 168 Index to Diary Entries 169- 171 BOOK THREE: Page numbers 1. The Immediate Aftermath 172- 181 2. The “Tech.” and Amateurs 182- 188 3. The “Natal Association” Grows 189- 196 4. A Period of Doldrums 197-203 5. DEMOLITION ! 204 - 208 6. Reminiscences 209-213 7. To Close the Years to 1982 2 1 4 -2 1 6 Page numbers Appendix 1. Items which are known and thought to still exist 217 Appendix 2. List of Chairmen, Secretaries etc., from 1922 218 Index to Book Three 10 BOOK ONE ----- 0 O 0 ------- THE PERIOD FROM 1844 until 1912 ----oOo----- 11 SETTING H U SCENE Chapter One I OF the various subjects such Astronomy, Meteorology, Chemistry and similar sciences, the first one which appears to have been given official recognition in the days of the old Colony of Natal, was Astronomy. But, before spending time on the details, it may be well to make some form of reference to the state of affairs which existed in the Colony during the period from 1844 until the main era of this work, namely 1882. Natal was annexed to the British crown on May 31st 1844, as a separate district of the old Colony of the Cape of Good Hope. The first Lieutenant-Governor of Natal was Martin West, who was appointed as such on 12th December 1845, at which time, the early settlement of what was then called “D’Urban” had only been in existence for a few very turbulent decades. During 1845, Dr William Stanger arrived and was appointed as Surveyor General. His first objective was to conduct a survey of the Colony, starting with D’Urban and Pietermaritzburg.