THE SUNDIAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 16, 9 April 1927, Page 23

THE SUNDIAL

EARLIEST TIMEKEEPER Man first of all told the time by noting the position of the sun in the heavens and there are still shepherds and other people living out of doors who turn to look at the sun when they wish to know the hour of day. The earliest instrument for measuring time was the sundial, the first of which consisted simply of a pole driven into the earth in a sunny place, the shadow from which, moving from west to east, told the passing hours as it touched the rough divisions of its circle marked on the ground. Later on it measured time by means of shadows cast by the sun on a dial or face. This had figures round it to mark the hours and a little upright finger in the centre, the time being told by the sun as it moved on its way, casting the shadow of the finger on the dial-plate. Many sundials are still to be found in the old gardens, but they are kept now more for their old associations than for use, for they cannot tell the motto which used to be inscribed on time on a cloudy day. But in a busy world it is very necessary to know the time, whether the sun is bright in the heavens or hiding behind a sky of heavy cloud.