END OF THE WORLD.

Otaki Mail, 17 December 1919, Page 2

END OF THE WORLD.

AMERICAN SCARE RIDICULEO. Wellington, December 15. The following cablegram, dated Jsth December, has been received by the Government Astronomer from the Director-General of Agriculture at Suva: —“A letter published in the local press from Clement Wragge predicting violent seismic disturbances, commencing about December 17th, has aroused considerable alarm. This Government would appreciate any information you could supply by fable on the matter.” Mr Hogben, Government Seismologist, having been naked for his view on the matter, has submitted the fo! towing report to Jhc Government:—“it has been proved again and again that sun spots and other astronomical phenomena do not cause earthquakes. The causes of earthquakes are within the earth, not outside it. It would be a mere chance coincidence even if one of the big earthquakes that are constantly happening were to fall on I7th December. No one can foretell earthquakes in the way that Clement 'Wragge claims to do; thereforo there is no special cause for alarm on the 17tb.” and this information Sir Francis Bell has eoaveyed to the Colonial Secretary at Suva. New York, December 113. Sir Oliver Lodge ridicules the prediction of a Michigan professor that the world will end on the 17tb, and sajrg. <‘lt ” bosh. The position the planets will have reached on Wednesday recurs about once a century, and ■nothing happens.”