WANGANUI ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15519, 24 May 1918, Page 4

WANGANUI ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.

SHORT SKETCH 01-' ITS FOUNDATION. The Wanganui Observatory celebrates the 15tli anniversary of its opening day (May iritlij and doubtless a brief outline of the formation and progress of the society will be of interest to our readers. The brilliant, naked-eye comet, which made its appearance in our evening skies in April, ItKJI, was responsible for the formation of the society and the establishment of its Observatory in Cook’s Hardens, At that timo Mr J. T. Ward, now for many years honorary director of the society, had an equa tori ally mounted refractor! of inches diameter, in a small observatory at the back of his business premises in the Avenue. The rush cf visitors to see the comet in his telescope, was so great that there arose in his mind the idea of forming a small society or association of those moat interested in the subject. An opportunity arose shortly afterwards. Trof. Maclaurin, of Victoria University College, Wellington, at the invitation of certain Wanganui people, came to Wanganui, and gave a lecture on ‘'Comets” In the Museum Hall. At the request of Mr Ward, he, at the close of his lecture, invited all those who were- interested in the formation of an Astronomical Society to remain behind and meet Mr Ward, who had certain proposals to make. A few enthusiasts responded with the result that it was decided to gn on with the matter, and a meeting was arranged. This first meeting was hj ‘ld in tho old Technical School, at the corner of the Avenue, andGuyton Street, where McGruer and Go’s, premises now stand, and many later meetings were held at the same place, through the courtesy of Mr D. Hutton, at that time tho Art Master of tho School, The members of the first meeting comprised Messrs James Watt, 11. J. Johns, O. G. A. Harvey, D Hutton, S. Austin, C. It. Cooke, J. T. Ward The latter was elected to the chair. A good deal of discussion took place, and it was decided to circularise all the residents ol the town who might be considered interested in the formation of a society. At the following meeting the society was formed, the officers elected being: President, Mr J. r T. Ward hon. treasurer, Mr 0. G. A. Harney; hon. secretary, Mr C. R. Cooke; committee, Messrs Wood, Cowx, Austin, Ward, MeCaxil, George, Cooke, Hutton. The society was formally inaugurated, rules adopted, and subscriptions fixed, etc. It was decided that a telescope of fairly large dimenisons should be the objective of the society, and that an Observatory should be built, in which the members, as well as the general public should have the means of getting into direct contact with tho celestial bodies within its reach. A sub-commttee w r as formed to wait upon the Borough Council, to ask that body to grant a site for such an Observatory in Cook’s Gardens Messrs Elliott, Manning, and Ward were appointed, and in duo course waited upon the Council. Tho Mayor, at that time, Mr A. Hatrick, and Cr. May were deputed to confer with the society, with the result that the corner of Cooks’ Gardens, upon which the Observatory and the plans submitted for the buildnow stands, was granted to the society ing were approved of. At that time the site was overgrown with broom, and very ruggod, and the Society informed that it might

fence in the more level part, from fence to fence, hnl, il was found that funds were not available for the purpose, and shortly alter wards the Council improved the whole of Cook’s Gardens, levelling and gravelling the tile, with the other parts. Enquiries had been made by the hon. Director, and various telescopes had been considered, hut it was not until tile evening of 1' ehruary 11th, 19U2, that a decision was arrived at, when it was decided to pm chase fhe instrument A now in use at the Observatory. The tender of Messrs Itiissell and' Bignell for the erect lon of the Observatory was accepted by the Society on December G, 1002. The telescope came fo hand in very good order and condition early in 190.'), and the heavier parts, which went to form the main hearings, were placed in position as the building progressed, and before the dome was built. The plans of the Observatory wore drawn, gratuitously, by Mr A. Atkins, architect, from plans of English and American observatories, adapted to our particular requirements, and Mr. .las. Tawse and Mr J. T. Ward supervised tile work in progress. .Messrs I). Murray and Co., engineers, kindly gave assistance in the erection of the heavier parts of the instrument, which was placed in position and completed in the early days of May. 190.’). The Observatory was opened officially by the Premier, the Light Hun. K. J. Seddon, on -May 2lth, 1903, on the ocsimi of bis visit to Wanganui at that time. The acquisition of such a telescope and Observatory wore made possible by file members incurring the responsibility of a loan sufficient to cover about two-thirds-, tlie remainder being met for some years by sums advanced to the (Society by members, free of charge. The Society therefore started its career with a fairly large liability, which has been gradually mimed by revenue from subscriptions and small collections at the Observatory and other sources, but the greater amount was generously cleared by the late Mr Henry Sarjeant, who always had the welfare of the Society at heart, and served it well duripg his lifetime as president. The late Messrs John Duncan and James Tawse also gave generous assistance in the purchase of a spectroscope, in counjunction with Mr Sarjeant. The telescope has Iveon devoted to work of a mixed character. A fair amount of scientilic work has been done. Aliout 200 double stars, not hitherto catalogued, have ticcn discovered, soma of which have lieen observed and confirmed at the Tnion Observatory, Johannesburg, South Africa. For this the Society has been indebted to Mr H. T. A. innes. Union astronomer, who has always given tire most generous assitar.ee in this dii'cetion. Observations and drawings of Mars at favourable oppositions have boon made, and subsequently published in the Memoirs ol the British Astronomical Association. Observations and measurements of comets, and photographs of same, as well as general observations of (ho sun, moon, and planets, and nccultations rf stars and eclipses have been part <f the regular work of the Observatory carried out by the hon. directors. But a feature of this OWrvatory has been tlie considerable amount of tirao devoted to public instruction in flic observation and description of the various celestial hodi. s tlie sun. at favourable times, and the moon, planets, and stoliar bodies—on one or two nights of each week during the year, On certain nights the O'servatery ha.s had parties of childr"ii from tbo higher standards of the Mute schools, as well as tlie private schools of Wanganui. The greater number of visitors of late have conic from a distance, due largely to the kindly recommendations of Mr Clement Wr.igge. who is never tired of telling his audiences to study the heav(fl| through tbo telcscojie, and is for ever recommending all visitors to Wanganui to go to (he Observatory. Tito telescope is a good one, and on favourable evenings sii[>eib views can ho had of the various celestial bodies, and the public will do will to hoop this institution in mind, as it, is certainly part of a lilsra! education to have a firsthand acquaintame with the wonders of the ITiiver-e around us. It only remains to add, (hough the Society inode-tly retrains from advertising the fact, that the work of the Wanganui Oitservalory is well known and appreciated among al] the leading Observatories ef the world, its catalogue of cloutde stars,; many of which have l>ren discovered by the observers at anganni, being accepted as a standard. And finally it. may be said, also, that though Mr ,T. T. Ward, the hon. director, with equal modesty also avoids the limelight, he is well known, at least by reputation, to all tlie leading ole servers of (he world and his work highly valued by them, as evidenced by his Fellowship of the Royal Astronomical Society.