A NOTED ASTRONOMER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19990, 6 January 1927, Page 10

A NOTED ASTRONOMER.

DEATH OF MR J. T. WARD. 1 (Fbom Odb Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, January 5. The death of Mr J. T. Ward, astronomer, of Wanganui, at Wairoa. will be deenlv regretted by hundreds of friends throughout New Zealand and other parts of the world. Two weeks ago the late Mr Ward, with his wife, went to spend the Christmas holidays with their married daughter, Mrs Kensington, of Wairoa. A few days ago he was Obliged to undergo an operation for appendicitis, but peritonitis intervened, and ha died at 9.40 last evening. Deceased, who came from England, has resided in Wanganui for a great many years. He was educated for the priesthood, but abandoned the idea of joining the church. Coming to Wanganui, he carried on business in the Avenue with a lending library. Later he moved further up the Avenue and established what was known as the “Book Nook,’’ a business which he conducted for 30 years until quite recently, when he sold out and went into retirement. The late Mr Ward was recognised as a great authority on astronomy by leading astronomers the world over. In fact his works are better known in other parts of the world than they are in this country. He took up the study of this most interesting subject at an early age and acquired a wealth of knowledge of the heavenly bodies which enabled him to propound several theories which were accepted by other leading astronomers. In fact, so vast was his store of knowledge that he had frequent communications on astronomical matters from various professors. As the honorary director of the Wanganui Observatory he was instrumental in getting a number of young men to take up the study of astronomy. He manufactured many expensive refractor telescopes and installed a 20-inch refractor at his private residence, which is recognised as the best instrument in the Southern Hemisphere. Mr Ward regularly for years past contnbuter astronomical notes in various New Z pSr d touting out for Wairoa Mr Ward had been on a visit to Nelson, where he delivered a lecture on astronomy at the Cawthron Institute. His family consists of four sons and three daughters—namely, Joseph, an architect at Los Angeles; John, who is teaching in Wanganui; William, a local publisher; and Charles, a nurseryman. The daughters are Mrs Kenmgston, Wairoa; Mrs F. Hoffman, Marton; and Frances, who is attending the Girls Loilege in Wanganui.