SPACE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 January 1917, Page 3

SPACE.

(Specially written fen* Tlie Chronicle

by H. B. France.)

One of the problems of the hour is the problem of space, the difficulty of providing space in the holds of the steamers fitted with refrigerating machinery for our growing exports of butter and other articles of food. In a different way, space always has been a problem, and just for a little mental relaxation let us consider it for a while. Everyone, at some time or other, has given it a. thought or pondered on the vast starry vistas on a clear night, and wondered how far space extends; if we could igo on in a straight line at unthinkable speed I for aeons of time where would .we get and could we ever get to the end of things? At onc-e the question arises is 6pace infinite? without boundaries, without shape? Again we think, can anything be without size or shape? Is it possible that our knowledge of mathematics, apparently so profound and complete, can measure fragments of space in inches, feet, and miles, and yet be unable to measure the whole? Let ins take for the purpose of a littlo fanciful theorizing a 561b butter-box It has length, breadth and height; it contains so many cubic feet of space ; which space is an intrinsic and integral part of the universe. A 561b butter box would hold the same, space anywhere; it would hold just the same amount of scoria from the mountains in the moon as it would hold of gravel from the Oliau. The cubic measurement of the nebula of Andromeda could be stated in so many repetitions of the cubic contents of a butter box. If we have the space of a. butter box we get the space occupied by 281b of butter ; halve it again and we get the space occupied by 14!bs. Could we by halving it (theoretically) ever reduce it to no space at all? It does not seem possible to annihilate space ' by halving it. In the imaginary halving process we would soon get down to the space occupied by molecules, atoms and the smallest particles of matter, but, however infinitesmal. we cannot think of space being made nonexistent by a theoretical mathematical process of division. On the other hand double the space of a 561b butter box and we have one with the space for 1121b of butter; double it again and we get the space for 2241b5, and so on. Could we by a process of doubling ever get infinite space—space without limit, or measurement; it does not seem theoretically possible. It is said that Mr George Cantor lias proved by means of mathematical calculations iihat infinite space is possible; his figures would be interesting to anyone with plenty of time. Coupled with the mystery of space we have the problem of time, and indeed in all our puzzling over space and distances time obtrudes into our thoughts. In fact it has been suggested that in addition to the three dimensions of height, breadth and length there is a fourth dimension connected in some mysterious way with time or duration. I have not yet come across any scientific or exact definition of a fourth dimension. We can easily understand time or duration in relation to the contents of a box of butter; but time as a factor in the size of a ibutter box is a problem. However .there may "be some "mute inglorious" Newton among the readers of the Chronicle who will astonish the world by an extensive cosmic philosophy. Such problems are outside tlhe practical necessities of life, but thinking about them gives a spice of variety to life and at least they w?H help to pass the time while milking a hard cow.