MUSEUM GLOBE UNPACKED

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28268, 4 May 1957, Page 2

MUSEUM GLOBE UNPACKED

Plaster Relief Model

A new noise joined the caeophony of sound in the rapidly progressing new wing of the Canterbury Museum yesterday when workmen drew protesting nails from a large packing case to expose the plaster-relief terrestial globe—or, as the makers prefer to call it. the great orographical globe. i , The globe was resting on a steel spindle so that no part of it touched the case. The globe* made by George Philip and Son, Ltd., of London, has been in Christchurch since August waiting for the geology hall to be completed. It was opened yesterday so that Mr Arthur Lush, formerly of the engineering department of Canterbury University College, and Mr F. Newstead, of the engineering department, could make the observations necessary before preparing for its installation. It is to be suspended over a stepped recess in the floor of the hall from where the .Antarctic areas of the globe may be viewed.

Inclined Spindle The globe will be supported by an inclined spindle operated by a motor which will rotate it at the rate of one revolution every two minutes. The northern hemisphere will be viewed from an observation platform reached by two stairways and lighting is to be arranged so that the globe will be illuminated to simulate light falling on the world at different times during the day and at different seasons. The terrestrial globe for the Canterbury Museum will be the only one known to the museum staff that is suspended tq give the illusion of floating, in space. There are only five,similar globes in the world and this will be the first to be installed in the southern hemisphere. Land masses are shown in relief and variations in colour show varying ocean depths. Although there are no political boundaries shown on the <4obe the most important place names have been lettered on it and rivers and lakes are clearly portray d. , t , . Now that Mr Newstead has examined the model he will PF. e ” pare a drawing so that the spindle, on which the globe will revolve, can be made.