A PHENOMENON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2373, 24 September 1887, Page 2

A PHENOMENON.

Anorr 0.30 last Monday evening my attention was drawn to a carious streak of light in the south-west sky, in the direction <d Pirongi:i, which was instantly declared to be the tail of a comet of considerable magnitude. While watching it intently a similar streak appeared alongside, a little to the southward, and presently another between the other two. making three in ah, situated high in the sky. and pointing iterpendicularly to the earth, each liar appearing to the eye of the size of a fence rail. While watching the phenomenon it kept increasing and diminishing in intensity of brightness, the northern ray being always the most vivid, and the centre ray the dullest.

Many were the speculations indulged in by the observers as to whit it could lx*, mostly in favour of one or a trio of comets of wonderful aspect. Was it possible, said I, that the ancient days of fiery signs and portents dire had again returned. What great calamity was in store for our unhappy country, now in the throes of great political agony? What could it mean? What misfortunes did it portent? Was the Vogel Ministry to be again returned to iiower, and the ruin of our fair land to In final an 1 complete? Was it also a warning in the heavens, a sign to all good men and true, to shake off their lethargy, bestir themselves, and put forth their energies tavoid such a disastrous consummation ? While registering a mental vow to devote myself to the task of averting such a catas trophe, I noticed a dull glimmer of a fire in the direction of Te Kore, directly lieiieath the rays, and that the clouds on which they shone were darker than the rest. I enne down from the clouds where 1 had been soaring, and came also reluctantly to lhconclusion that the peculiar lights were nothing more than the reflection from the burning scrub, but even at that, they were remarkable.—(Communicated). [Probably the Aurora Australis.—K I.]