AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1926, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

SUBMARINE MAGNETIC DISTURBANCE.

SYDNEY, January 27

A submarine magnetic disturance in the Pacific Ocean has disorganised the world’s cable services.

Cable experts in Sydney have declared that disturbance lias probably been caused by the appearance of large new sun spots. The New Zealand cable is the worst sufferer, but reports have been received from all parts of the world that tho cables are working badly. Afost of the messages received in Sydney could not he deciphered. The disturbance commenced last night, and until late to-day the cables did not resume normal conditions. SYDNEY, January 27. Tho Rev Doctor Pigot, S.J., in charge of Rivervicw Jesuit College Observatory, Sydney, said that the magnetic disturbance in all probability Is associated with great groups of sunspots which have passed across the meridian of tho sun, and arc now approaching its western rim, but it is puzzling to explain why the disturbance had not occurred two or three days since, when two great groups of sun spots, which he had photographed, were on the centre meridian of tho stm in direct line with the earth.

Rev. Dr Pigot concluded that, if there is a real connection between tho phenomena of the sun spots and magnetic storms, the present, storm shows that the axis of vertical movement of the electrons has been inclined very obliquely to the sun’s surface. SNIAFIL AND ITS DRAWBACKS. (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.; SYDNEY, Jan. 28. A sample of the synthetic wool was submitted to a gathering of wool experts at the wool sales, but they refrained from giving a definite opinion as to whether it would affect the wool industry in Australia. All agreed that it had a detracting harshness to tho touch and almost brittleness and lack of elasticity which was possessed by merino wool. MELBOURNE. Jan. 28.

Doctor Campbell, president of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Chemical Institute, after examining a sample of the artificial wool, said he was certain that in the new fabric there was not the natural cotton fibre. Ho added: “However it is treated, it is tho artificial product of cellulose, but no chemical analysis or microsc-upic examination can possibly reveal whether the basic .substance is wood pulp or artificial silk or cotton. It is certainly less suitable for weaving into human clothing than wool, and there is no possibility of mistaking it for cotton anv more than there is for real wool.”

OBITUARY. SYDNEY, Jan. 28. Obituary—Doctor Stopford, ex-mem-ber of th 0 Legislative Assembly and formerly a resident of New Zealand, where lie was actively associated with tho child welfare movement.