SUNDIAL MEMORIAL

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3272, 14 March 1931, Page 5

SUNDIAL MEMORIAL

IN ST. JOHN'S CHURCHYARD.

INSTRUMENT REPAIRED BY AN INVERCARGILL RESIDENT.

Many years ago a sundial was erected in the grounds of St. John's Church, Te Awamutu at the instance of the late Mr W. F. Y. Stewart, who, besides being postmaster here, was a very prominent and valued pubac man. The sundial, however, fell into some disrepair, and its usefulness has been non-existent for some time. Recently a brother of Mr Stewart arrived in Te Awamutu from Invercargill, and, being the maker of the sundial, he was naturally curious to note how it was functioning. Needless to add, he was grieved to find that it had been neglected and that some vandal Or vandals had thrown it out of commission. With a praiseworthiness to be commended and, wherever possible, emulated, the visitor had the sundial dismantled, and he took it away with him to repair it. What has been done, and what is desired for the future, is clearly set out in the accompanying letter that came to hand this week. Need we add that we fully subscribe to the writer's appeal that a greater interest in the sundial and what it stands for will be shown by residents in Te Awamutu, not only for its practical interest, but also as a mark of appreciation of valuable - pub ic secvice rendered by the late Mr W. F. Y. Stewart ? The letter reads:— "During my recent visit to your town I naturally went to the local graveyard to pay my respects to those who had passed away. You can quite understand my intense amazement anddisgust when I discovered that the sundial and pedestal which were presented by my late aricTloved brother, W. F. Stewart, as a tribute of respect to all those who had fought and fell in defence of their homes and kindred, had been ruthlessly and wifully * smashed beyond repair by sacreligious vandals. "On making myself known to the vicar he heartily sympathised with me, and suggested that we two should interview the church officials. This was done, and all agreed that the memento should be replaced. I personal y offered to make another dial if the townspeople would supply a substantial pedestal to replace the gift which had been so wantonly destroyed. My proposition and offer were unanimously accepted, and endorsed by the town clerk and your good self. I have, therefore, railed today, addressed to you on behalf of your townsmen, a bronze dial suitably engraved, which I trust will meet with your and their approval. " The dial is of imperishable bronze, and is fully engraved with instructions to observers how to obtain correct Zew Zea and mean and standard time in latitude 36deg. Omin. south and 175 deg. 20min. east (that is, Te Awamutu) by the equation table, which shows by how much the sun is faster or slower than the clock time for every tenth day during the year. Intermediate days must be calculated mentally by the observer. You will also note the twelve signs of the Zodiac, through which constellations the sun passes each month. I also enclose a monograph on ' Time/ which explains in simple language the somewhat complicated motion of the sun's and the earth's relations to one another. Trusting the dial may be approved by all my late brother's old friends, —I am* etc., James Stewart, Invercargill."