ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1927, Page 3

ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

RAIN PREVENTS OBSERVANCE. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association. LONDON, June 30. Observers of the eclipse of the sun wore disappointed. The weather was overcast or raining. LONDON. June 28. The township of Oiggleswick is overcrowded by strangers with smoked glasses anil blankets, who desire to witne-s the eclipse of the sun. Even the Mimmit id Mount Snowden is crow iled. M ains, motor-ears and ehai alianes have -tri allied endlessly to vantage points. Nearly 50,(111!) people travelled by 120 special trains from London. Seven aeroplanes went, from Croydon. The scene was akin to a Bank Holiday.

Dancing until sunrise went, on in the halls, the hotels, and the streets, with early morning cinemas, mid-night picnics, lamp fires, and all the Inn of countless fail’s.

The Prime of AVaies made a special journey in a motor ear lor the purpose of viewing the elaborate preparations made in London, where the eclipse will he 96 per cent of the total.

All the parks are open early and in the West End of London parties have been extended throughout the night.

BUSII OF HALF A .MILLION. LONDON, June 29. The Prime of Wales, who was al Westmoreland, has led a rush ol half a million eclipse enthusiasts, wlm made lor the totality belt. Twenty thousand have gone from London alone. Hundreds spent {the night (’limiting, Snowden. Two hundred ears managed to park half way up the mountain, while other people used the mountain railway, which was working throughout lie* night.

Meanwhile. Londoners have arranged for early rising, after preparations which placed alarm clocks and screened glasses at a heavy premium. Some have determined to dance till dawn, thereby avoiding the danger of oversleeping. In the totality belt, cinemas, night picnics, and other entertainments havo been arranged from dusk to dawn. There is a special demand for tickets at the Blackpool Tower, which is 109 feet high. A few of certain of the North Country religious zealots are improving the occasion by lurid warnings regarding the Last Judgment, reciting passages from Revelations in reference to the opening of the Sixth Seal.

CLOUDLESS SKY IN PLACES. LONDON, June 29. The eclipse was seen perfectly in n cloudless sky at Gigglcsu irk. Southport. and in some other districts. 111. the totality area the corona was a most brilliant spectacle.

Heavy clouds in London and other parts of the country cost hundreds of thousands of sightseers a drenching and they saw nothing.

SEEING THIv ECLIPSE. LONDON. June 29. Giggleswich definitely goes down in history a.s the spot in the totality be 1 ’ of the eclipse thirty, miles wide ac ross England, where the conditions were perfect two minutes before the eclipse. When the astronomers had given up hope, the clouds parted and there was p, practically perfect view. The 'Astronomer Royal’s party obtained la splendid photograph with a forty-five foot focus camera. He points out the iotal eselipse lasted exactly the period predicted, but tile actual beginning was three seconds late. Elsewhere, including Louden, it was a ghastly failure. Rain fell in sheets at many favoured observation posts. Thousands drenched and chilled, saw nothing. Certainly England has had no such amazing an event for years. It seemed as though everybody gathered in every available open space trusting to luck, which deserted them. Giggleswiek showed the whole country how to do things, and will now retire into its accustomed seclusion for another two hundred years.