MAGNETOGRAPH MADE SAFE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25270, 23 August 1947, Page 2

MAGNETOGRAPH MADE SAFE

REPAIRS TO OBSERVATORY ROOF

“All risk of serious damage to the' instruments has been removed,” said the director of the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory (Mr H. F. Baird), last evening, when asked about the repairs to the roofs of the magnetic pavilions at Amberley, which were extensively damaged in a gale on August 7. Mr Baird paid a tribute to all those concerned in the repairs for the speed with which they had worked, thus saving from harm the valuable magnetograph 1 housed in one of the buildings. The repairs were arranged by the Public Works Department, said Mr Baird. The main job was the laying of a new fibrolite roof, and this was done within a week by the contractors. Special copper holding materials had first to be made. Other repairs had been done by carpenters of the department. The work of sealing a cellar was almost finished. The buildings had never been so substantial as they were now. The possibility of storm damage had been foreseen, he said, and Ministerial approval for repairs had fortunately arrived a day or two before the damage was done. Mr Baird quoted Mr P. Baracchi, Government astronomer for the colony of Victoria, who declared in 1898 that “the observatory is a duty which New Zealand owes to the scientific world.”

“In its field,” said Mr Baird, “the observatory still remains New Zealand’s contribution to an international effort. It has been very heartening that its safety has been so speedily assured.”