WANGANUI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 205, 16 December 1864, Page 1 (Supplement)

WANGANUI.

On the 4th a magnificent meteor exploded at Wanganui. The following detailed account is given in the local journal:—

Those persons who were fortunate enough to be awake at a few minutes before 2 o’clock on Sunday morning were startled at perceiving a most brilliant light, which, after lasting for several seconds, suddenly vanished. So bright was it that the candles in well lighted rooms were completely

eclipsed, and some even describe it as equalling the strongest sunshine. It was followed about a minute later by a tremendous explosion followed by a hollow rumbling noise which lasted three or four minutes. Some persons, and particularly those who reside near the northern boundary of the district, state that in the interval between the light and the explosion there was a rattling metallic sound, and they also perceived a strong smell of sulphur. Nearly every person in the district was awoke by the explosion, and of course formed all sorts of conjectures as to the cause. Ihe soldiers, in the barracks, and many persons in the town, believed that one of the magazines had exploded, while the country settlers generally supposed the sound to be the precursor of a terrific earthquake. The whole, however, was caused by an enormous meteor, which approached rapidly from the north-west, and exploded when apparently very near to our district. Yesterday the sentries who were on duty at the time, were interrogated by Colonel Logan, with a view to getting a good and reliable account of the phenomenon from those who had the best opportunity of witnessing it, and from their statements the following account is drawn up.—There had been heavy clouds indicative of approaching rain at about 9 p m., but these afterwards cleared away and the night remained clear till about 1 a.m., when a bank of clouds gathered over the Straits. There had been a light wind also, which lulled shortly before the meteor was seen. The meteor appeared emerging from a very dark part of these clouds a little to the northward of the Heads. At first it seemed faint, but grew rapidly brighter as it approached, till by the time it was overhead it was too dazzling to look at. It appeared as large as the sun, or larger, apparently spherical in front and conical behind. The front part was of a dull red as compared with the flaming tail, the base of which was the most vivid part of the whole meteor. A train of sparks like the train of a rocket remained behind it for a second or two, and its flight was attended by a whizzing or rustling sound. Passing apparently somewhere to the northward of our district it exploded when about thirty degrees above the horizon in a north-easter-ly cireotion, over Mr. Nixon’s house, the whole time from its first appearance to the explosion being variously estimated at from a minute to a minute and a half. The time which elapsed between the explosion and its report was certainly not more than a minute, and probably somewhat less : for though some of the men gave a -longer time, yet when questioned as to the distance they could have marched or ran in the interval, they named places which it would not have taken a minute to arrive at from their respective posts. This time also tallies vary closely with the observations of settlers. From the testimony of several soldiers there can be no question that the meteor passed below the level of the clouds, a reddish light having been reflected from them during its passage. The report was considered by soldiers who had served in the Crimea and India to be equal to a hundred heavy cannon fired together. Strange to say, while seven men out of eight agreed as to the course of the meteor, the eighth declared that it came from the direction of the market place and disappeared behind Putiki Pa; and that the report was followed by a quantity of sparks. Some felt the earth shaken by the report, and all felt blinded by the light. The meteor was seen, and the report of it heard, quite as plainly at Turakma as here, and in both places cattle seemed equally terrified by it, rushing homewards with their tails on end, and bellowing their loudest. W e also learn by the Ahuriri that it was seen at New Plymouth, and was apparently so close that parties went out to search for the fragments. Several other bright meteors have been observed lately, particularly on the nights of last Wednesday and Monday, but they could not be compared to the one above described, as they were noiseless and evidently a great distance "off. [Since the above was written, we have learned that what was no doubt a portion of the meteor fell about five miles beyond Turakina. Mr. Freeth, on whose land it fell, covered up the hole it made in the ground, with a view to enabling persons interested in the subject to bo present when it is dug out. He describes it as having made a hole about six inches in diameter, and eighteen inches deep.]