THE SOLAR ECLIPSE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2056, 10 September 1885, Page 2

THE SOLAR ECLIPSE.

[n\ TH.FGKU'If.— OHV COHHI'SPONDFNI.] AiCKLiM), Wednesday. Tin: weather was \eiy unfa\mir.ib!e in Auckland for tho solar eclipse. Clmid* ob-cnrcd the sun. The collide wa-. f.nrly well seen at Masteiton, but l)i Hector's observations at Dtejei ton were spoiled by adverse weathei. Tlio following is the Association's ipport of observations at Mastertnn :— A heavy south-svest gale, with lam, set in last night, and the moining brok« without any signs <»f clearing. Mi McKeuow and party, who had camped at the foot of Otahuao, proceeded to the top and h\ed their iustinmentri amid the dii//.ling snow and hail. Just before totality the sky cleturd, and all the phe noinena wis fait ly \isil)U>. One phot igraph was taken be foi e tot.ibty, thiee during, and one after. The loi oll,l was visible foi fully a minute, the oncin ling rays radiating a distance <>f about half the diametei of the sun. It w as of a pale w lute colour like the elccti ie light and of unifoi m width, except at the sun's equator, wheie it shghtlj piotrudrd. Tt was eudentlv of gieatest extent, but fiom the extenoi light was invisible, owing to the watery state of the atnuwpheie Datkno^s was hcaieelv noticeable, owing to clonxN hanging about. The photograph* form the most important re-ult of the ex pedition. N\lMKlt, Wednesday. The morning was bught and cleai. At 7 35 the sun appe »ied a> tlie thin stiexk of a new moon The tiieiniometn' fell fiom V2deg. to 40' leg F.duonlieit. The sky became of a In id hue, and the sea n<-umed a red colour, ttev eral excellent photogiaphh were taken by Mi W. H. Xe.il. Kcmviu, Wedne-day. Splendid weather prevailed foi witnessing the eclipse. The sun was paitially eclipsed when fiist seen at 1i. 30. The greatest obscuration (Ut-20ths) occuued at 7.34, and the list contact at 8.45.

The phenomenon w.is f.nily visible in the \V.uk.it<», though clouds obscured the sun both at the diht and last pounds of contact Mr (iwynneth, who took caiefnl olwtuva turns at C.unbiidgp, «t.ites th.it the fii-t contact took pl.icc at (>.30. but he was un able to fi\ the e\act tune at which tlm eclipse teiininated. It is behoml that eleven twelfths of the sun's snrf.ice was obscured at Hamilton. Tlie sky assiinieil a ppcuti.ii In id hue, and twilight leipned riming the time of the gie.itest ob-cura tion.