The Evening Star. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1874.

Evening Star, Issue 3668, 24 November 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1874.

Many persons are desirous of knowing something about the coming transit of Venus, who are yet unwilling to undergo the labor which a thorough comprehension of the whole theory of the subject involves. We believe that it is quite possible to give such a description of the transit as will meet the wants of this class—a description which shall give a good general idea of the whole thing, but which shall be free from the mathematical and scientific technicalities which make the matter repulsive to those who have not received the training necessary to enable them to pursue such investigations with a fair chance of complete success. At all events, we will try to do this. Let us, then, first picture to ourselves the state of things that will exist at about one o’clock on Wednesday, December the 9th. At that time the Son will appear to us to be somewhat to the west of north, the north of the Sun being turned, speaking generally, towards the horizon, and the south towards that region of the sky which is overhead. A person observing the Sun at this time with a good telescope would see its disc perfectly round; if the feather were very fine he would also probably see the surface mottled, and possibly showing here and there a group of small spots, or larger black spots surrounded by a brownish shading. By-and-bye he would see on that portion of the Sun’s edge which lay furthest to the right a very small indentation. This phenomenon is called the first external contact. This indentation would increase very gradually till it assumed first a semi-circular and at last a completely circular form. It would then appear to be an intensely black’ round spot, touching the Sun’s edge at one point. This is called the first internal contact. There are some irregularities in this appearance, caused by the contrast between the extreme biightness of the Sun and the blackness of the planet : these give considerable trouble to astronomers, but we need not concern ourselves with them further. The time that would elapse between the external and the internal contact would be about half an hour. Our observer would now see the black spot move steadily across the face of the Sun towards the left, but inclining downwards, to a point not very far removed from that part of the Sun which would be then lowest in the sky. When it arrived here the same phenomena would be observed as at the commencement of the transit, but in the reverse order. At six o’clock in the evening the planet would be a short distance on the west side of the Sun, as it had been at one o’clock on the east side. It thus appears that to an observer in the southern hemisphere the planet Venus will appear to describe a straight line (or nearly a straight line) over fhc Sun’s disc in a certain direction. An observer in the northern hemisphere would see the same appearances—that is to say, the planet would move over the same part of the Sun and in the same real direction, with one allimportant difference. To him the line or path described would appear to be a little further south than it would to the southern observer. Now when astronomers shall have determine! the exact position of each of these two apparent paths of the planet, it will evidently be found that they may be represented by two parallel lines running across the Sun’s disc in a certain direction. It has fortunately been found quite easy to determine what.the real distance in miles between these two lines actually js, if fcho distance between the two stations on the earth is accurately known. We have not space to explain how this determination is made: suffice it to say that it depends on the fact that the relative distances between the .Earth and the Sun ; and Venue and

the Sim have been accurately determined by finding how far Venus appears to move away to the east and west of the Sun when it is at its greatest apparent distance' from that body. When the distance in miles and in angular measure between the two pxrallel lines described by Venus on the Sun’s disc is known, it is comparatively easy to determine the breadth of the Sun in miles also, for it is quite easy to measure the breadth of this disc in minutes or subdivisions of a circle. This can be done very roughly even with a pair of scissors and an ordinary divided semicircle. If-the pair of scissors be held in such a way that one point is directed to the top and the other to the bottom of the Sun, and the scissors thus opened be applied to the semicircle, it will be easy to see that the angle or opening of the scissors is about half a degree. If then the angular breadth of the Sun is about thirty minutes, and the distance between the two lines about half a minute, it follows that the whole breadth of the Sun is sixty times as great as th 3 distance between the two parallel lines. Suppose, then, the distance between these lines to be 15,000 miles, this distance being, of course, computed from the distance between the two terrestrial stations, it follows that the breadth of the whole disc, or the diameter of the Sun, is sixty times 15,000 miles—or 900,000. When this is found it is the easiest thing in the world to determine how far a body of that real diameter must be away in order to take up the space in the sky that it appeal’s to occupy, rims, then, the Sun’s distance is determined by means of two observations of the path of Venus over the Sun’s disc—one of these observations being made in the Southern Hemisphere, an'd the other in the Northern. We believe that this is about all that a person can really understand with regard to the transit of Venus, unless he is prepared to take a very great deal more trouble than most people are inclined to bestow on a purely scientific subject.

Captain Nicoll is a pataenger by the Albion. He proceeds to Lyttelton to take charge of the barque Hadda. Two very important motions standing in the name of Or. Walter will come on for discussion at the v.’i'y Cou cil meeting to-mor-row night. The first asks the Council to affirm the desirability of the gas works being purchased iu terms of an agreement with the proprietor, dated August 2 1872 ; and, cou sequent on this being carri d, that notice should be given to -v-r Ha key’s attorn-y of the ini cation of the Council to purchase the gas works, payment to be m ade bj debentures at par, bearing six per cent, interest.

The anniversary services of the Port Chalmers Wesleyan Sunday School were held on Sunday last, in the morning by the Rev. J. A. Taylor, of Invercargill, and in the evening by the Rev. W. J. Williams, of Balelutha. In the afternoon an address was delivered to the children of the various schools, by the Rev. Mr Williams. There was a large attendance at each service, and during the day the children sang a number of popular hymns, including some of Sankey’s. The adjourned meeting of the Port Chalmers Town Council was he d last evening. The Mayor presided, and there were present Councillors Rose, Menelaus, Miller, Middledi'ch, and Asher. The assess meut roll was bud pn the table and allowed It showed an increase in the value of rateab'e property amounting to L 2.2&0. 1 AtWalo ig discus-ion the rate for the year was fixed a: one shilling and threepence in the pound. The Cl rk reported having received three tenders for the erection of baths ; bub the meeting having been called for special business nothing further was done. The Friendly Societies’ Fete Committee met last evening and wound up the accounts connected with the ffite The total proceeds were 1-431. and, after deducting expense, there replaced L 220 10s. The sum of ten guineas was voted to Mr W. G. Geddes in acknowledgement of his seryicen, which had contributed so much to the result, and LlO was handed over to the Benevolent luscitution. The sum of L2lO now remains in the hands of the trustees of the Friendly So cieties’ Gardens ; and this, together with the amounts voted by the three societies interested. will be devoted to the fencing and improving of the grounds. A vote of thanks to Messrs Woodland and Anderson terminated the proceedings. Up to four o’clock this afternoon, twenty engagements were effded at the Caverabam Barracks. Seven ploughmen were engaged at L 55 a-year for the twelve months, one*at a similar rate for six months, and one at 1.40 a year for three months. A farm laborer found employment for twelve months at L 62 a-year, one at L4O, and one (for three months) at L 52. (me married couple got LGS, one 1.63, and one (with family) L 42 10s -ajl found ; one L 72 10s, and one' LSS, with house and firing only. One youth was engaged at the rate of Lss a-year, one at 8s a-week, and a single man shepherd wai engaged for a year at IffiO. ihe suitable class of passengers by this boat will account 'or the exceptionally high wages obtained.

Despite the attraction of Madame Goddard’s conceit the play of “The >• tracts of cw York” drew a capital downstairs attendance at the i'rincass Theatre lastevening. “The Streets of New York ” is a very ofd acquaintance in a new dress, and therefore does not call for mqeh comment. To Mr Bates must be accorded praise for the manner in which be played the part of Badger, while excellent assistance was rendered by Mrs Bates and Mrs Hill, Messrs -Keogh, Musgrave, and Steele. Miss May made up surprisingly well, and acted capitally, as the old woman of the play, while Miss Vivian erred on the side of juvenility. Some good scenery, painted by Mr Williams, did not fail to catch the notice of the audience, who went almost frantic with delight when, at the conclusion of the fourth act, a fire engine is brought on the stage, and manned by members of the brigade to extinguish the (ire which forms the catastrophe of the play, *’ 'lhe ■'treets of New York” will be repeated this evening. The railway works on the Clutha lino are progressing very satisfactorily, the culvert over the mill and the bridge over the North Branch being completed. The station at lokomairiro is beginning to assume a lively aspect, and piles of timber, iron, and other railway material are beginning to accumulate there. This is now the headquarters of the line, and the engine and trucks it their terminus every night. We ( ‘ Bruce ‘ I erakt ’) may state that the only obstacles in the way with r’ejgiid ft) fche opening up of the line he*

tween Bdclntha and Mosgiel are the bridges ovei the Taieri River. The contractor ia [lushing them ahead with all haste, and should they he completed the line will be open for tr.-.flic within six weeks. It will ba remembered that some rime ago Mr A. J. Smyth® made an application to the Government to provide some carriages to run upon that part of line already completed, and also stating that Messrs Drogden and Sons would take all responsibility until the line was handed over to the Dovernment, The Government refused the application, and the line will now lie dormant until it- is completed right through..

‘ The London Journal ’ we received yesterday was for October,’ and ‘Bow Bell’ and ‘ Young Ladies Journal ’ for November, 1874.

By a typographical error the total score of Yol. M'Cartney, Portobello, appeared in last night’s Star as 11. The number should have been 81.

. The ‘Australian Journal,’for which Mr R. T. Wheeler is agent, contains some very readable matter, and is published at a price that should command for it a ready sale. We thank Mr Phillip Mitchell, stationer and bookseller, Fleet street, for copies of the ‘I amity Herald’ for September, ‘Bow Bells’ and the‘Young Ladies’ Journal’ for November, and the ‘ London Journal ’ for October.