THE KING OBSERVATORY.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2914, 28 October 1916, Page 14

THE KING OBSERVATORY.

AN ASTRONOMICAL ASSET TO WELLINGTON. On Thursday afternoon, a deputation consisting of iJr. U. Munro Hector, U. H. Adams, U. 0. Boxy, and W. S. La Irobc, members of the Council of the Wellington Philosophical Society, waited ou the Reserves Committee of the City Council in connection with the erection of a proposed King Observatory near the Government Observatory in tiie south-east corner of the Botanical Gardens. Dr. Hector informed the committee that tho society lias been presented by a very fine s—£J inch astronomical telescope, made by Urubb, of Dublin, by Miss King, in memory of her late brother, Mr. Thos. Kingj a former president of the socioty, and one who had done valuable scientific work for Wellington for many years. Their desire was to suitably houso the telescope in tho Dotanical Gardens, near Kelbufn, in order that the best use could be made of it hy tho members of tho society and tho public, and to that end Mr. \v\ S. La 'Probe had prepared plans. Mr. La Trobe, who submitted plans of the King Observatory, said that the proposed site was a little to the west of the present observatory, about four chains away from the Kclburn .ontrancc to the Gardens, on the top of a knoll, admirably suited to'the purpose. The amount of land required would only be 26ft. by 54ft., and it was iu such a position that gardens could be sloped up to the observatory all round. He reminded tho members of the committee that such gardens were the recog-

nised places for observatories, and quoted thoso of Greenwich, Kew, and the observatory in Melbourne and Sydney in support of his claim. ' Mr. (i. Frost, the chairman of the committee, said ho was sure that the committee would be pleased to recommend to the council that the land required for tho observatory in tho Botanical Gardens should be used for the purpose mentioned.

The King Observatory is to be erected in red brick, with cream-toned cement facings. The building will consist of three apartments all on different levels—a lecture-room and library (30ft. by 24ft.), and ascending from that by a few steps will bo the observer's room, where it is proposed there will be a bunk or bed, n dark-room, n bathroom, and other \itt\o conveui--1 ences for rea) astronom'icrt) workers,who may wish to work to too late an hour to go home. This is a consideration for those workers who are engaged in their ordinary avocations by (tay, ami, working up t\tt 2 a.m. or X a.m., would then be able to snatch a few hours' sleep before going iuto the city. Another flight of stops will lead to a flat roof, where, of course, the telescope room will be erected. This will be built of wood or asbestos sheets, and will revolve wholly on circular rails round the solid concrete pier that bears the telescope, and which rises to the roof, from some,five or six feet below tho level of the ground. This revolving room will take tho place of the usual revolving dome. Its roof is flat,' and can be opened up, so as to exposo the heavens by pushing back a sliding panel, whilst there is a window which can be opened for more lateral observation work, , Ono ingenious innovation is that from the observer's seat the room may bo manipulated or revolved without any trouble. On those occasions when the public are invited to view the heavenly bodies, accommodation for them is provided from tho promenade roof of the observatory, from which a magnificent view of the city and harbour will be obtainable.

it is understood that the money to pay for the erection of tho observatory will be applied for by the society to the Afacarthy Trustees,,