MR WRAGGE'S LECTURE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3109, 6 February 1909, Page 5

MR WRAGGE'S LECTURE.

"THE MAJESTY OF CREATION." The first lecture -of a series of two was given last evening in the Town Hall by Mr Clement Wragge, the well-known meteorologist, the subject chosen being "The Majesty of Creation." There was a large audience, who listened to the a Idress with rapt attention. Mr Wragge dealt with the weighty subj j .ct in a way which only a thoroughly expert scientist and investigator could, and the magnificent lantern illustrations assisted the audience very materially to understand and appreciate the remarks of the lecturer. The views of *.he "milky way" were of a particularly fine nature, and Mr Wragge explained to his hearers how this wondrous constellation was comprised of myriads of suns, included in which was our who took with him on his course to the great "Hercules" the whole of the planets of the solar system. The various ages through which the earth had passed since its disintegration from the sun were the scientific terms bei.ig elucidated in popular language to enable the .audience to comprehend the mighty forces at work to bring the earth to its present condition from a mass of molten matter. Mr Wragge said that there was for a time a difference of opinion as to the age of the earth, geologists fixing it at three hundred million years, and astronomers at about forty million years. Now. however, it was agreed that the former estimate was nearer the mark, as that time would be required to account for the rock formations. Some valuable views were shown of Easter Island subjects, in which were illustrated the ruins and huge wooden statues on the island, estimated to be three hundred thousand years old. The statues *vere giant representations of the human face, being about 36 feet high, and these showed that the date of the advent of men on the earth datsd to ages of the most remote antiquity. The series of photos of the solar system were beautiful in the extreme, especially those of the moon. Mars, Satum, Uranus, and the sun. The famous sun spots were explained by the lecturer to be mighty upheavals of inconceivable magnitude on the sun's surface, the effects of which were felt on Earth as well as by other planets in the system. Mr Wragge, while on the subject of weather forecasting, said that by present methods of studying the sun, moon and earth, according to various astronomical features, it was possible to foretell seasons for some time ahead with tolerable accuracy. He said that Australia was even now entering on a period of drought, although, when he told them of this fact in Australia, some scepticism was evinced. The slides showing eclipses were of a romantically beautiful character, and met with hearty applause. At the close of the address Mr Wragge displayed what he claimed to be the finest samples of radium south of the line. They were of a most interesting and instructive nature, as was a full description of the composition and power of the wonderful product. To-night Mr Wragge will deliver a bright and entertaining nonscientific lecture, entitled "A Trip Round the World." in which he will exhibit over three hundred and fifty splendid photographs of interesting place.-! in the world which he personally visited on his tours.