Checking Pacific
p. 53 · Read in the full issue
Charts
Carnegie Scientist In Samoa
From Our Own Correspondent APIA, July 20. /COMPLETING his fourth visit to Western Samoa, Mr. Wilfred C. Parkinson, of the Carnegie Institute, Washington, U.S.A., recently departed from Apia for Hawaii. A magnetician attached to the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, he has travelled all over the world for the past 23 years studying compass varia tions and making the necessary adjust ments to navigation charts.
This work is essential, said Mr. Parkin son, because variable changes are con tinuously occurring. For instance, he was recently in New Guinea and discovered that some charts there showed a varia tion of as much as two degrees, compared with observations taken in 1915-16. All his findings are sent to the Institute in America, he added and in turn the Car negie people advise the navigation depart ments of the countries concerned. In this way, charts are kept up to date.
As a member of the scientific party on the magnetic yacht Carnegie, Mr. Park inson last visited Samoa in 1929. He was on board the vessel when she blew up in Apia Harbour, as result of a gasoline explosion. On that occasion two men— the captain and the cabin-boy—were kill ed, and a number of the crew were hurt, but Mr. Parkinson escaped injury.