FALL OF A METEORITE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 297, 10 December 1908, Page 3

FALL OF A METEORITE.

THE RECENT EXPLOSION EXPLAINED.

Tlie mystery surrounding the explosion which was heard in Wangaaui and for many miles north and south along this coast on Thursday week, has now been fully explained, the nett result being au acquisition to the Wanganui Museum, through the prompt and energetic services of the curator, Mr. Maimer, of portions of u meU-oriU'. !>o many accounts of the occurrence, all more or less vague, have been published and limited abroad, that the following details, which speak for tli 'ir own correctness, ami which we have -. certained through the kindness of Mr. Marriner. will be of interest. On Sunday afternoon last a man named Win. Syme. of Eastown, waited on Mi. Milliner and showed him a piece of a blo.-i; of stone, and stated that it was a piece of a meteorite which fell within half a mile of the Mokoia station, seven miles south of Hawcr.i. He, with three other men. hud been working on the railway, uear a creek, when they heard a crackling noise overhead, like a volley from rilles. l'he next development was the sound of a piece of material falling over on to Mr. (J. J. Hawkins' estate, into a pine plantation, about half a mile east of the sta tion. Another piece, as far as could be observed, fell among some dense bu h on a steep bank above a ci'eek, about 41)0 yards below the bridge. A third; piece was heard falling shortly afterwards, like a piece of rocket, the ex-" plosion, which must haw occurred at a great height, having distributed tli ■ pieces. A third, portion fell into the creek with a splashing hissing sound, like that produced by the immersion in water of hot iron. The other workman, X. Ibbotson, also saw the phenomenon, and saw a Hash like a tongu© of flame, anil what lie took to be steam, in a white film. The noise was heard distinctly by a number of people in Mokoia, who also saw the splash, Mr. Oliver's cattle, seen from the cowshed, commenced to career round, and a team of horses, ploughing on Mr. Alf Smith's place some mites away, commenced to stampede, being frightened by the loud report. , Mr. Marriner, on learning the above, immediately decided to investigate the whole occurrence, and left on Tuesday with Mr. Syoies for Mokoia. lie arrived there at 10.30 a.m., and while "waiting for the heavy rai;i to cease, he was entertained to a liberal luncheon by the railway men. The rain having some.wliat abated, the curator then donned a waterproof outfit and visited the plantation referred to. Here lie was cordially received by ill". Hawkins, who took him to the spot where the meteorite fell, a spot some 400 yards from the homestead. -A "whizz" had been heard by the occupants, but nothing else, ;r.id a man sent to look for the cause, had found a hole in the ground about a frfot deep, and 15 o" 10 inches wide, in which two large pieces of the meteorite ■were embedded. Two pieces lu.d evidently been as one till reaching the "round, the exposed root (of a tree, thus checking the impact with the ground. There was a big gash in the tree root, while it was somewhat scorched. The upper portion of the 'tree was splintered where the meteorite 'had 'nit, and from the direction of the hole, and the markings of the tic, Mr Jlarriner judged that the stone had full .en almost due north and south, with 'about 20deg. in favor of the east. The portions found bore evidence of lieinjj ■very warm, though tliev were of course cold when first found. ' Mr. Marriner made search for the other two portions reported, but owing I .to the steep nature of the hill, the density of the bush, also to the. limited time, he was unable to gather further I fragments, beyond a few small pieces .which he picked up on Mr. Hawkins estate. Mr. Marriner estimates that he has secured, by the coutrcsy of Mr. llawikiu», about two-thirds of the meteorite. The two large pieces neigh 4'/.llls and 3 1 /jlhs respectively, and lie judges •the total weight of the pieces that fell On Mr. Hawkins' .place at about I'ilbs. The portions found are of greyish black stone, with whitish markings, and apitear to be of the bolide order. The meteorites travel about at a wirying height above the earth at a speed of from 8 to 10 miles per second, and at ordinary times there are estimated to be abont 20 millions travelling |.i-t pel day. Some fall with reports, and some •without warning, while of the millions alwavs falling, mnnv of them drop m the form of dust. The largest reported found weighed IOOIbs, and the sample now in the possession of the Wanganui Museum, together with the root through which it cut, is of very great inierest behl" as compared with many found, of large' size. Though many are found, each has its particular interest, a* ewdenee of the composition of our heavenly bodies, and for the purpose of ascertaining the composition of tin: latest addition to the Museum's stock of stones, Mr. Marriner will forward a small piece to tho Government's analytical department. The meteorites are mostly composed of solid iron, often studded with little granules which are to be seen in tile specimen ju-t secured. Other meteorites have simply a framework of iron, embracing a mass of other solids. Other specimens are simply rock stone, usually gray in appearance, with round granules.—'Wanga* pui Chronicle,