Transit of Mercury.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 November 1940, Page 4

Transit of Mercury.

Many residents of Masterton took advantage of the brilliant sunshine this morning to view, through smoked glass the transit of Mercury across the path of the sun. Conditions for observation were all that could be desired. The transit lasted from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m A Press Association message from Wellington states that weather conditions were about as favourable as possible this morning for observing the transit of Mercury across the face of the sun. Some twenty photographs were taken at the Carter Observatory. As far as can be ascertained at present, the phenomenon kept exactly to the schedule worked out by astronomers, but observations throughout the world will require to be correlated before anything definite can be deduced.

Production of Coal. The increase in the output of coal from New Zealand mines was referred to by the Minister of Mines. Mr Webb in an interview last evening. He said that returns for October showed an increase of 21.000 tons in production of coal compared with October of last year For the first ten months of the calendar vear production was 160.000 tons higher than for the same period in 1939. "Last month I appealed to householders to store as much coal as possible during the summer months, and I would again like to ask the public to take serious heed of this appeal," said Mr Webb. "Industrial consumers should also build up stocks jis rapidlv as possible, especially as the collieries will not be operating during (he Christmas holiday period. I would urge every consumer of coal, in his own interest, whether tor his household or for his business, to build up a substantial reserve stock of coal while the opportunity exists."