THE SHORTEST DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 148, 24 June 1901, Page 2

THE SHORTEST DAY.

Professor Hugh W. Segar, of Auckland University College, sends us the following interesting notes on the shortest day: — "Dear Sir,—lt may be worth while writing to correct a notion generally prevalent, namely, that June 21st was the shortest day.

"Now the longest day in England has been on June 21st for a long time past, but this year was on June 22nd, and will be on that date each year for many years to come. The cause of the change was the Gregorian correction to the calendar, in virtue of which the year 1900 was not a leap year, although 1900 is divisible by four.

"In the case of New Zealand, however, we have to take into account in addition the difference of time,the effect of which has been that of late the shortest day has been on June 2.lst in only three years out of four, being- on June 22nd in every fourth year, including the present one. During the lives of most of us, however, the shortest day in New Zealand will, in the future, be on June 22nd, threo years out of four, and on the 23rd every fourth year, beginning with the year 1903; the date June 21st being completely out of.it. A somewhat similar mistake prevails also with respect to the shortening and lengthening of the evenings. Contrary to the general impression, the shortest and longest days do not mark the turning points. When the shortest day arrives the sun has been setting from night to night for .several days, and in the Rummer the sun does not begin to set earlier until early in January, about a fortnight later than the longest day.— Yours, etc., HUGH W. SEGAR."