PLANETARIUM AT MUSEUM

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28157, 21 December 1956, Page 12

PLANETARIUM AT MUSEUM

BOARD ENDORSES PROPOSAL

SPONSORSHIP BY ROYAL SOCIETY MEMBERS

If sufficient money can be found, the Canterbury Museum will have a large and well-equipped planetarium in the new wing now under construction. A special committee of the Canterbury branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand proposed the planetarium to the Museum Trust Board last March. Yesterday, after deciding that a suitable space could be found in the new building, the board agreed that it would accept an offer of a Hit-dia-meter planetarium. The chairman of the planetarium committee of the Royal Society branch (Dr. C. Ellyett) said last evening that his committee would now suggest that the society support the plan, and find means to finance it.

The proposed planetarium equipment is manufactured in the United States and with seating for 40 persons would cost about £36oo—a sum that could be reduced With economies to a minimum of £3OOO.

The board yesterday agreed that an area 20ft by 20ft should be reserved for a planetarium at the south-west corner of the New Zealand fish and reptile hall in the museum. Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon described the proposed planetarium to the board, and referred to the report by the society’s committee. “In the light of the enormous commitments facing the museum in the progressive furnishing of display halls, store-rooms and laboratories in the field of our traditional departments, I would recommend that the board regard this as a highly-desirable special theme, which might be financed from outside sources.” he said.

“From the report it would appear that the sponsors are confident of supplying suitable qualified experts to demonstrate at evening functions, while their help could be counted on should the service be extended in daytime to school classes. “The educational value of such an installation is self-evident, and the museum should welcome the opportunity of widening its community service by serving as the home for what will certainly prove to be an immensely popular educational attraction. Its value will be clearly complementary to the spectacular relief terrestrial globe suspended from the ceiling in the adjoining geological hall.” said Mr Mac Gibbon.

The main console-type projector would cost £1740. he said. Eight special projectors (to throw images of planets, comets and diagrams on the dome) would cost £1304. The prefabricated dome. locally made, would cost £375; and the chairs and a record player would cost £22s—a total of £3644.