ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1919, Page 5

ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.

THE NEW PLYMOUTH SCHEME- i» >— | PROGRESS OE THE OBSERVATORY* i A general meeting; of the .New '■ Plymouth Astronomical Society was held last night. Mr. S. Percy-Smith presided pver a good attendance. : \ " The chairman traced the history of thej J society, and outlined the proposals fori i .future operations. He dealt with the (chiyne to erect an observatory oil Marsland Hill and to purchase ah np-to- s date six-inch telescope to place there., | It was the aim of the society to promote 1 the study of astronomy, and he urged' } members to induce others to join. In addition to the observatory, it was proposed to establish a library, and when j the work was completed it would make f a valuable addition to tho town.- To / assist knowledge of astronomy amongst' the young, it was proposed to provide facilities for the senior scholars of the local schools to use the observatory, and!, It would be availablo to them on Tues- • day and Friday evenings every week. ■ The observatory would be open to the public on Thursday and Sunday evenings. Authority was given for the purchase A of a telescope involving an expenditure jj|g up to £IOOO. It was decided to the money necessary beyond that re- i eeived by subscriptions. Tho meeting > : s also adopted a list of rules governing the ' ■ Moiety. . f The Hon. O. Samuel was made a Vice- ! " : president,. i A vote of thanks was passed to the executive and the secretary (the Rev. 0. Blundell). , '■■ £ The executive council reported:— "A sub-committee reported in favor of a ;' site being secured on the southern end of / Marsland Hill. 3 ''The executive has been fortunate » \ securing the services cjf Mr. A. W. Bunrll, of Stratford, to superintend the erection' of the observatory and to con<vTsj construct the dome. Messrs Boon Bros, ' are now engaged in putting iu the concrete foundations for the observatory/jp ''There are now 74 names upon Ufip.-i society's roll of membership, and it U' 1 < hoped to see an early increase in thjsi " direction, for it is ovident - that , tho larger the membership the betted will £ the equipment of the be* * come. "The thanks of tho society are due to Mr. W. H. Moyes for the use of the ;>!i assembly hall for lecture purposes; to' i: the president for two volumes of "Atsoronomcal Results" made at the Melbourne Observatory; to Mr. G. H. Bullard for plans required for submission -,k to the Hon. the Minister of Lands { and to Mr. W. Laing for fixing the orientatiori. of the observatory." : y THE SUBSCRIPTION LISf. , % Donnlions received or promlitd ire:— ,* sad.

The followlug have intimated tiwl* UMftrcl tlon to help the Society, but hare nct\3%r*l£ stipulated the amount: Messrs. GUmour Claris, Roy and Nicholson, Jackson and Bed Post Furnishing Co., 'II. P. CaniwC'. '*i George Grey, 0. Howarth, and 0. Johnson,

Messrs. Burgess, Fraser and Co. .. . SO « a Mr, 'Newton King « (i ' Messrs. .1. H. Cook and Co » « Messrs. Weston and Billing 0 Mr. Thos. Avery •f-ii Mr. John Avery #•« Mr. Percy White 0 Mr. T. C. I.lfit « ■"< Mr. B, II. Uullllam 0 Dr. H. B. Iieatham 0 Tnranakl Herald and Budget .... 0' Mr. I>. F, Burrows T 0 M.«ssrs. Ambury Bros 5 D V Mr. S. Percy Smith R 0 , T ' Mr. R. J. Dearo IS o 1 Mr. L. A. Nolan IS 0 > Rev. 0. Blundell s 0 ' ,'j Mr. 0. H, Maunder . It (I 0 1 Mr. A. R. Standish s 8 * Sir. Tumbull it 4 Mr. Bales, architect .......... 1 « Mr. P. \V, Hall . SI I • ? Mr. E. P. Webster ! Mr. 0. H, Bullard « 9 - Mr. J. Abbott 1 » ft Mr. .1. Pa ton 1 0 v< 5 Mr. R. C. HURhoa 1, o "i Mr. Eyro 1 Sir. Auld 1 o '■$! Mr. R, Pepporell 1 o % Mr. W. w. Smith 1 0 ■» Mr. Blair, aenr 0 o-4 Mr. P. .1. Morsliead •' IB Miss G. Drew 1* « "Friend? 1 : 1* » ;,3 las. U>bb 1» Mr. T. H. 'Western » m