OBSERVATORY AT AUCKLAND

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27369, 7 June 1954, Page 6

OBSERVATORY AT AUCKLAND

HILLARY MEMORIAL PLANNED

"The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, June 6.

The first steps for an Auckland observatory—to be known as the Hillary Memorial Observatory—have been taken by the Auckland Astronomical Society. The City Council has given permission for it to be erected on the top of Mt. Hobson. A minimum of £lO,OOO is needed. Dr. A. A. Corban, the society’s president, would like to collect £30,000 —“a pound for every foot of Everest.” The first amount would provide a reasonable building and equipment equal to that at the Carter and Wanganui observatories. The larger amount would give a first-class telescope ana refractor, and also a planetarium where the sky could be simulated at all times for instruction and entertainment. Dr. Corban said the society would form air establishment committee of prominent citizens to raise the, money. He hoped the Government would give a subsidy. , 3J “It will be a fine memorial,” he said, “and it will put Auckland ahead scientifically. It is another way of advancing this city.” Sir Edmund Hillary gave permission before he left on his present trip for his name to be used.