THE GIFT OBSERVATORY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1740, 3 May 1913, Page 5

THE GIFT OBSERVATORY.

NEWS SENT ABROAD. News of tho public-spirited offer of Mr. Thomas Cawthron to build, equip, ami endow a solar physics observatory in the vicinity of Nelson, was yesterdSit cabled l>y tho Son. K. H. Rhodes to tlio High Cominisiohor ill London, for public -'information. To Mr. Cawthron, iho Minister dispatched tho following telegram "I hail great pleasure iii presiding at a lecturo delivered hero by Mis Proctor last uiglit, whin it was my privilege, after , tho lecture, to read to audience your-let-ter announcing that you were prepared to build, equip; and endow a solar physics observatory in vicinity of sunny city of Nelson. Tho announcement of your gonoroUs gift was rccoived with enthusiasm, and on Mr. A. C. Gilford ©ailing for cheers for the donor, the call was heartily responded to. Immediately after meeting I cabled tho news to our High Commissioner fo'r publication, through tho various nows agencies in Great Britain. I also informed the Priiho Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs, who are at present in Auckland. Nelson is to bo congratulated on this further evidence of the piiblio spiritedness of its citizens. "(Signed). R. HEATON MODES. "Postmaster-General." MR. CAWTHRON'S GIFTS. . (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Nelson, May 2, Mr. Cawthron has takon a keen but unostentatious interest in the wolfaro of Nelson, which is indebted to him for many generous gifts. A fine flight of granito steps is now boing constructed up tho Church Ilill at tho top of Trafalgar at a cost of .£2OOO, which Mr. Cawthron is providing. Some littlo time ago ho gave .£BOO to provide ornamental iron standards and chains along the sea wall on tho picturesque Rocks Road at tho Nelson Harbour entrance. His donations to tho Nelson Library and Institute amount to about ,£IOOO, and to tho School of Music ho has given- several thousands, mul also an organ costing about .£3OOO, ■which is now being erected. Mr. Cawthron is keenly interested iii civic matters nlid in city improvements, 110 is a very old resident of Nelson, aild lias travelled between Nelson and Marlborough over the mountains in Iho early days frlien there were no roads. He ivns shipping agent for tho Panama .Steamship Company and M'Ncckan and Blackwooda in tho oarlp days.