MAGNETISM.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1921, Page 1

MAGNETISM.

TERRESTRIAL AND UNIVERSAL. (By Georgina King, F.R.S.A.) In February, 1911, 1 published my pamphlet, “The' Mineral Wealth of New South Wales, and other Lauds and Countries’” and added the following appendix:—“Me are told that the Shayk’teton to the Antarctic discovered the South Magnetic Role Coal formations weie also discovered and deposits of iron are always found in close proximity to coal formations. I have mentioned this in my article "Our Iron Deposits and Mineral Wealth,” and it would lie interesting to know the nature of the iron deposits

1 at the South Polo. May not such Jejjosits have influenced the compass used ' by tlio explorers, for the magnetic polo has always appeared to be such a ‘wil!-o-the-wisp\ being located at different places, perhaps where such iron deposits exist at the South Antarctic region, by various explorers? In the Bailie Sea there is an island of Domna" 1 * called Bornholm, which consists almost entirely of magnetite. It is much dreaded by navigators, because it renders steering a ship by means of a needle impossible. This influence is fell miles away, and as soon as the island is sighted all mariners of the Baltic turn to lighthouses etc., to direct their course. We are told that rocks that attract the t'omipass are met with on the eastern coast of Now Zealand and the west coast of Australia. Sir James Ross considered that he located the North Magnetic Pole in 1831, and thought that ho located the South Magnetic. Polo in 1840. In 1880 Borehgrevink considered he did also; and as each explorer finds it at a different degree, the only practical conclusion that can be formed is that the deposits of highly magnetic iron at the supposed Magnetic Pole attract .the compass, for the needle in the Shnekloton Expedition remained stationary when the explorers were supposed to be miles away from the geographical or axial South Pole. I hen again, the ice and snow at the “Point” containing so much oxygen,, etc., would bi» magnetic, and even if there was a great depth of it covering iron deposits, the attraction of it would not. be lessened, for ice and snow are good conductors, also, for people who have been caught in snowstorms and buried beneath the snow heard distinctly every sound above them, though they could not make themselves head'd.” It is very gratifying to me to see that my theory of terrestrial magnetism is supported by Professor Arthur vSbhuster’s lute investigations. “The Athenaeum,” says that lie has ninde a serious attempt to solve the problem of the magnetic power of the earth, and has examined carefully all the current theories on the subject. The fact that the magnetic polos are only a few degrees distant' from the true poles of the earth has led many to conclude that the rotation' of the ' efirth on its axis ‘must in some way he

accountable for'the jjhenomefton; blit ProfcwW Schuster Rives several reasons for thinking that' the reasoning is wrong. ' He is more inclined to the theory that the earth is a magnet, becntifip of fho masses of iroit •concealed within" tier crust and thinks tli'at : hi - has not been' sufficiently investigated. • The laws of magnetism as exhibited on the surface," may, he says, he entirely different nt fho- high temperature i ad enormous pressure which are supposed to exist in the interior of the earth , and this is the direction in which further experiments may be useful. I am helped in this theory of mine by the interesting experience which happened to the Japanese' Antarctic Expedition, which arrived at' Yokohama on June 19, 1912, and of which Word was brought by- the J.M.S. Kumano Maru. Captain Nomura says that his party on the steamer Kainau Mam were greatly troubled hv perilous masses of floating ice, and the ’deadly cold winds,” and greatly embarrassed by the facit that the compass was always pointing in a reverse direction, which puzzled them as to wlia.t direction they were going. Thus is just what happened to mariners in the Baltic Sea when'near Bornholm, and is a most important experience. It should he investigated further. There are far too maiiy vessels 'wrecked on the

New Zealand coast that have been attributed to -strong currents, driving the vessels on the rocks, which may be really due to tihe magnetioal nature of the rocks.

lfc ,s very interesting to find in Brewster’s Life of Newton,” that Leibnitz objected to the law of gravity, because Newton could not allow what gravity itself is. An apple falling to the ground when it is ripe and tilie stem withered is not an explanation, nor is the untwisting of the spring of a watch that ihas (been mechanically wound up to keep time. There is something else in, gravitation, a power which is immortal, and is the cause of the great universe revolving round title sun. There is a harmony in this power or force that keeps a dead moon -in its proper circle, and by a study of terrestrial and universal magnetism and iron deposits, we may find a solution of the mystery of gravitation. We have yet to realise more fully tihe important part iron occupies in the magnetic forces of organic life. Hematijie, -or the red colour in blood, is due to iron, and chlorophyll or the green colour in plant life is produc-| ed bv iron a,s well. The colour in the yolk- of an egg is owing to iron also.! Our magnetic powers are tihe result of, the proper circulation of modified forms of iron through the human system, therefore there is an affinity between terrestrial magnetism and -animal magnetism through iron. The iron in the sun and the moon must be magnetioal. In “Nature,” July -22, 1915, there is an account of the solar disturbance of June 17, 1915, accompanied by magnetic storms; and Professor Barnard, in “Nature,” July 15, wrote that on June 17, 1915, a beautiful display of Aurora Borealis accompanied this solar disturbance and : accompanying magnetic storms. There was also a remarkable display of the Aurora Australis, ‘.‘Nature” says, on June 17, 1915—the most beautiful that has ever been seen in the Southern Hemisphere, visible all over New Zealand. (