TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN AS OBSERVED IN VARIOUS PLACES.

Kumara Times, Issue 2799, 10 September 1885, Page 2

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN AS OBSERVED IN VARIOUS PLACES.

■ —♦ The eclipse of the Sun yesterday morning was well observed from several places on both sides of Cook Strait, but, singular to say, according to telegrams, wherever the scientific gentlemen (mentioned in a Wellington telegram) had located themselves for taking observations, there the weather was unfavourable at the best moments of the total phases, and we fear no good photographs have been taken of the corona which appears during the total obscuration of the Sun by the Moon. From Masterton, Dr. Hector reports heavy southerly squalls, with hail, spoiled observations. At Castlepoint, 108 miles north of Wellington, the Sun was overcast, and snow was falling at the time of totality, which was visible only two seconds. At Wellington, the weather was unfavourable at first, but by the time the total phase was reached the sun was sufficiently clear of clouds to give an uninterrupted view. The scene was most impressive, as the darkness at the western heavens became illuminated with a deep orange color, shading off into the most delicate yellow. A number of stars were plainly seen during the darkness. After about a minute and a half the Sun again shone out and gradually showed its ordinary disc. Pigeons and other birds began to fly about in a helpless sort of fashion, and sought their roosts. At Napier, on the other side of the zone of totality, the morning was bright and clear. At 7.35 the sun appeared as a thin streak of a new moon. The thermometer fell from 52 degrees to 40 degrees Farenheit; the sky became of a livid blue, and the sea assumed a mud colour. Several excellent photographs were taken. At New Plymouth and Feilding the weather was fine, and the atmosphere clear. At Nelson and Oollingwood excellent weather prevailed, and the eclipse was a grand spectacle. At Nelson, just before totality, the blackbirds were whistling, but as soon as the light waned an awful silence reigned. Vegetation assumed an unearthly hue, and the spectators were almost ghastly. A number of stars became visible. The corona of the Sun, surrounding the Moon, was silvery white, from -which rays extended, and a remarkable effect was produced over the sea and on the snow mountains to the west. At first, a pink glow was visible in the west, whilst a peculiar darkness reigned, and as the shadow passed, the tints on the snow gave place to indescribable gloom, the mountains seeming to assume different shapes. The cold became intense. A south-east breeze had been blowing before totality, but this ceased and an upward current of air seemed to take its place. The thermometer stood at 50° a little before, it stood at 30° just after totality, and there was frost in places where there had been none at five o’clock. At Dunedin, Lyttelton and Christchurch, the weather was not favourable ;

but as the eclipse was not total at those places, no interest attaches to telegrams concerning it. Mention is made from Christchurch of a large spot being seen on the sun’s surface We saw three yesterday, with a good telescope—one a very large black spot (which one observer said he could see with the naked eye); the spot at the time of the eclipse, was near the sun’s western limb ; a faint one near the eastern limb, and another faint one towards the northern limb from the east. The first and last mentioned were visible to-day.