To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Straits Guardian. Wellington, Port Nicholson, January 7, 1845.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 15, 18 January 1845, Page 3

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator and C ook's Straits Guardian. Wellington, Port Nicholson, January 7, 1845.

Sir, —ln ray short notice of the Comet given in the Spectator of Saturday hst, I said that it was approaching the constellation Pavo. The weather had been very unfavourable for observations, and I had mistaken a Gruis for a Pavenis. The following observations may perhaps prove interesting to some of your readers ; they are the angular distances taken with a sextant from Sirius, (the Dog Star) a. Centauri, b. Centauri, and A. Gruis, taken as soon after 9 o'clock at night, as the state of the weather would permit.

From these observations, it will appear that the Comet is moving in a north-westerly direction, — towards the north at the rate of nearly a degree and three-quarters daily, and towards the west at the rate of nearly one degree. It cannot, I think, be visible to our friends in England at present ; but, weather permitting, they should see it in about a fortnight hence. I will not pretend to say whose, or what Comet it is, for as its appearance is not predicted in the Astronomical Epheraeris, either for 1844 or 1845, it must, I presume, be an unexpected visitor. I remain, Sir, Your most obedient servant, W. M. Smith.

December 27, 1844. From Sirius to Nucleus 118° -33' 15" " a. Centauri to Nucleus 53 22 45 The night cloudy, the Comet only seen at short intervals. December, 30, 1844. From Sirius to Nucleus 1130 30' 15'/ "a. Centauri to Nucleus 55 47 45 "a. Gruis to Nucleus 13 7 15 The length of the tail about 9°, its extreme breadth about 2°. Fine night. January 1, 1845. From Sirius to Nucleus 110° 0' Of " A. Centauri to Nucleus 57 40 0 " a. Gruis to Nucleus 9 50 15 The length of the tail about 100, the night cloudy, the comet only seen at short intervals. January 6, 1845. From Serius to Nucleus 101° 14' 45" "b. Ceutauri to Nucleus 66 32 15 "A. Gruis to Nucleus 4 13 0 Length of the tail about 100. Fine night.