WANGANUI OBSERVATORY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 198, 24 August 1935, Page 8

WANGANUI OBSERVATORY

FINE COMMUNITY SPIRIT WORK OF SUSTENANCE MEN A line community spirit has beeu shown recently by several unemployed men ou sustenance in Wanganui. In accordance with a decision to c lll_ ploy some of their enforced leisure in intellectual and cultural pursuits, they approached the director of the city astronomical observatory, Mr W. H. Want, with a suggestion that he set aside special evenings from time to time, when they might visit the observatory to receive information and instruction iu the study of astronomy. Arrangements had already been made for visits to the Art Gallery and Dluseum and Public Library. The director of the observatory gladly acceded to the suggestion and a very interesting evening was spent by a party of men, early this month. During the evening the director remarked that the city engineer (Mr L. F. Row) had had the dome repaired and painted, but the interior of the building required renovating, and the mounting of the big telescope also required painting. Several of the men immediately offered their services. The city engineer agreed to supply the materials and during the whole of last week and for a portion of this -week the men have been hard at work, scraping, polishing and painting, under the direction of one of their number well versed in the art. The result is a transformation and redounds 1o the credit of the workers. Walls and dome have been re-varnished, all brfiss and glass burnished and polished, and the iron and steel of the mounting gleams in a new coat of paint. Apart from the preservation of this valuable community asset the spirit shown is to be highly commended. Perhaps others who have more than their labour to give will follow the example set, by financially assisting to extend the activities and benefits of this fine scientific and educational institution. An additional building is badly needed to house the library and records, which are at present stored in the Art Gallery basement, and also to further the educational work. Wanganui citizens in the past, with the inspiration and guidance of the late J. T. Ward, built the observatory and equipped it with the finest telescope in New Zealand (the total value is £2000), later handing it free of debt to the city. “Surely there is some cittizen nr group of citizens in the city who will come forward to crown the work commenced by an earlier generation.” said a city councillor yesterday, when commenting upon tho spirit shown by tho unemployed.