THE ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2089, 8 September 1885, Page 2

THE ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

The total eclipso of the sun which takes place to-morrow morning, is very naturally the subject of conversation to-day, and as Masterton is very near the centre line which will be taken by the shadow, ali the most prominent astronomers in the colony have been attracted to it. ■ It was at one time expected that Professor Ellery, of Melbourne, and Mr Russell, of Sydney, would also be present, and a party of distinguished men from Home was also talked about, but neither has found it worth whilo to come this far. This is certainly surprising, and the moro so when it is remembered that on the last total eclipse a special expedition was despatched to the Caroline Islands, This party, by the way, saw nothing of it owing to the wet weather. It ii possible that the observations which are to be made to-morrow will not be so minute, or perhaps not even so comple, as if they were conducted with the splendid instruments which the visitors would have brought with them; but, on the other hand,, tho raiulta that will be attained will be as accurate as possible, and the colonial observers will nave the whole of the credit for the work done. Among the Dumber in Maatorton to-day, m noticed' Dr. Hector, Mr MoKerrow, Ven. Archdeacon Stock, Mr Beverley, Mr Humphries, Mr W. T. L. Travers, Mr Adams, and Mr Wilmofc.

Messrs MoKerrow, Humphries, Beverley, Adams and Wilmot will proceed to Otakuau, where Messrs Barker and Buckridge have been making preliminary preparations. The work will be divided a« follows

Mr Humphries; Photographing. Mr Barker: Noting time in observa' tory.

Mr Humphries: Exposing.

Mr Adams; Drawing of Corona ; Structure with Theodolite ; Observing for time.

Mr Beverley: Observing contracts—to be timed; observing protuberances—time to be noted; observing flashes or meteors across the moon; sun spots, &c., &c. Mr McKerrow: Distance of coiona and where it eitends to; colours; radiation; line of symmetry in angles; meteors; stars and planets positions. Mr "Wilmofc; Intensity of light by experiment on print; approach of shadow; wind; direction; and force if there is a lull; appearance of faces of people, birds, cattle, &c.; thermometer and barometer.

Mr Buckeridge: Call out time. The observations will be taken from the trig station on the top of the hill, and th« photographs from a saddle about five hundred feet lower down, near where the road dips into the valley of the Taueru, the spot having been chosen because there it a hut there whioh oan be uitd at a dark room.

Dr Heotor, accompanied by two other observers, will proceed to the Rangitumau, where he will take observations that will be as complete as those on Otahuao, except that there will be no photograph" ing. Archdeacon Stock left for Brancepeth to-day, and it is understood that he will take observations there. Mr Travera intends to take photographs from Masterton.

Aecedeacon Stock's Leotom,

The Venerable Archdeacon Stock «s]ipx tt St.

Matthew's School-room last night. (There a fairly large and moit attentive audienct: The lecturer referred to the relative tug of the sun, earth acWioon. and illustrate by diagram positions they would occupy aiihe time of the eclipse. The lino of totality would only extend over a narrow part of New Zealand and wcuid touch no other land. The most eastern point of land which it would touch was near Castlepoint, the line would pass them near Masterton, Mount Crawford (in the Tararua), D'Urville Island and West Wanganui. The shadow would pass from Weßt to East. The longdst time the total phrase-, of an eclipse of the 'sun could possibffl last was 8 minutes; "but in the present*" •' instance it would" only last one minute 58 seconds. With regard to observing it, his advice was not to use too powerful a glass, in ordinary binocular would serve the purposes of an amateur far better' than anything else. During totality a binocular could perhaps be used without protection, but in all the other stages smoked or colored glasß would have to be used. The lecturer also referred to the phenomena that were always observed during total eclipses, and the theories by which tliey were accounted for, and explained'tho importance of taking photographs. In conclusion, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the lecturer. During the evening several instrumental selections • were given by Mrs Paige and Miss Beard, ThalberaferaJrand March" on two pianos, being radiantly executed and loudly applauded. To avoid all misapprehension as to the time at which the eclipse takes place, we wish to make it clearly understood that it occurs almost immediately after sunrise. The eclipse begins at 0.42 a.m. and the total phase at 7.47 a.m.