FURTHER ADJOURNMENT; CLAIM FOR MISSING OBSERVATORY EQUIPMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, 18 October 1950, Page 2

FURTHER ADJOURNMENT; CLAIM FOR MISSING OBSERVATORY EQUIPMENT

“I wi.il adjourn this matter until October 31, a period of 14 days, and if the instruments are not produced within that time I will have no alternative but to enter judgment for the £6O claimed,” said Mr. S. S. Preston, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Wanganui. yesterday, when the Wanganui City Council claimed £6O, the value of a set of eye pieces belonging to a Filer micromete* used at the City Astronomical Observatory. Defendant was Gottlieb Kreutze* Aronsen. antique dealer. The case was before the Court a week ago, but was adjourned to enable Aronsen to find the missing eye pieces. When the hearing was resumed yesterday, the city solicitor, Mr. C. F. Treadwell, said that as the eye pieces had not been recovered the case was now cojif’nd to the value of the missing equipment.

At this stage, Mr. W. M. Willis, who appeared for defendant last week, said that Aronsen had since taken other advice. Mr. Willis was accordingly gran.cd leave to withdraw from tne proceedings and defendant was represented by Mr. J. S. Rumbold. Mr. Treadwell recalled that when the case was before the Court a week ago, the only matter in dispute was the set of eye-pieces, inquiries ha I beer, mt-ue as to their value, and tne council was now claim.r.g £6O as the replacement cost, instead of £25. Mr. Treadwell's application that the statement of claim be amended was granted. “There is one other matter which * would also like to mention,’’ Mr Treadwell aided. “Mr Rumbold mentioned yesterday that I had given the impression in Court last week that the set of eye pieces had been removed from the observatory by Aronsen. That is not the case.” COUNSEL’S EXPLANATION. An official of the council took the micrometer and the eye pieces to the City Council offices. It was found that the micrometer could not be repaire* in Wanganui, so it was sent to Wellington. In the meantime, Aronsen said he would look after the eye pieces until the instrument was returned from Wellington. He had done so, but when the micrometer came back he was unable to find the eye pieces.

William Herschel Ward, honorary director of the City Observatory, said that the Filer micrometer was used for measuring the angle of distances between stars and comets. Without the eye pieces, a set of which contained 10, the instrument was useless. Witness did not think that the set could oe replaced satisfactorily in New Zealand. The eye-pieces would have to be made in England and matched with the instrument, which would also have to be sent overseas.

In order to verify his opinion as to the value placed on them, and also to be fair to defendant, he had written to the director of the Carter Observatory, Wellington, Mr. I. L. Thomson, said witness, producing a written reply. Mr Thomson, who was one of the only professional astronomers in New Zealand, considered that each eye piece would cost £5 to replace, added to which would be import dues, sales tax, insurance and freight. The micrometer itself was valued at £250. RATHER HAVE EQUIPMENT. Mr. Treadwell: As far as you are concerned you would far rather have the eye pieces it they could be obtained? Witness: Absolutely. Cross-examined by Mr. Rumbold, witness said that the micrometer was part of the equipment of the observatory and was there to be used when required. This was a considerable sum of cerned, said Mr. Rumbold. The proper money sc far as defendant was concourse would be to obtain a statement from the manufacturers in England at-, to the replacement cost.

* Aronsen instructs me that he did not take the eye pieces from the council’s e;r.ployee, but was actually given them lor safe keeping,” counsel added. Defendant had to shift from his premises in a hurry and had packed many cf his possession away in boxes. "He also put the eye pieces away, but. perhaps too carefully because he cannot find them now,” said counsel. Defendant had also met with a serious accident since then and had been in hospital for some time. He admitted. quite frankly that his memory was not as goed as it had been. He wis perfectly sure that the eye pieces were still in his shop, but could not put his nands on them. COULD NOT BE TRACED. Aronsen said that if he could find tile missing eye pieces he would hand them over to the council. If he could not he was prepared to replace them or provide a fresh instrument. He had sent airmail letters to two English firms inquiring about prices. The magistrate: 1 feel that this matter has dragged on long enough. Aronsen had not been associated with the observatory for about 12 months, but in fairness to him it must be said that he was extremely helpful when he was here, said Mr. Treadwell. "It is difficult to know the true facts, but if the city has an observatory such as this and people retain valuable equipment and are dilatory about returning it, it will be hopeless 11? ing to carry on such work,” said the magistrate. “If people treat public pi. r-erty so lightly ;fiey must put up with the consequences.” Adjourning the case till October 31, th? magistrate said that there appeared tc be a certain amount of misforiune about the case. Aronsen had not been as co operative as he could have been, but this may have been oue to ill health and worry.