THE LAST COMET.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2625, 19 August 1881, Page 3

THE LAST COMET.

(From the “ Home News.”) Inhabitants of the southern hemisphere aie so accustomed to brilliant constellations that they may laugh a little at our excitement more north over a new and unexpected ‘ comet. But “ B 1881.” as our fiery visitor is so far mildly christened, is a source of immense amusement and interest with us. In Paris crowds throng the Boulevards until a late hour stargazing at what is deemed the longest, most brilliant and most luminous nucleus that has been seen within living memory. In London the comet attracts no less attention, and the papers are filled daily with letters from amateur astronomers who have calculated its course and photographed its tail. The excitement is even greater beyond the Atlantic, and in New York the comet occupies far more attention than these other two great events of the moment, the abstraction of the millionaire Stewart’s corpse and the supposed discovery of the remains of Morgan, murdered, -so it is said, by his brother Freemasons, ages ago. Throughout Europe, however, the advent of the comet is hailed with satisfaction on really substantial grounds. Comet years have ever been famous for good weather and agricultural abundance; their vintages excel all others, and their cereal harvests are splendid. There is hopg that 1881 will be no exception to the rule. Reports from the Continent arc most promising, and in England the condition’ of the crops is so far sufficient to satisfy even the long ill-used British farmer. .From America the news of prolific returns is equally encouraging, and promises well for the coming year’s supply of food. [Late cablegrams have informed us that severe weather has been experienced in England and France, and that the wheat crop had been seriously injured].