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Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 138, 7 March 1929, Page 15

ThatX « halo round the moon is a precursor of stormy and almost invariably bad weather would seem to have been conclusively proved. If a corona or rainbow -tinted ring is observed round the moon, it is usualy a sign of cold weather, rather than wet or windy. Some experts regard the corona as presaging fine, settled weather. Similarly red sunset is supposed to portend fine weather, but the belief would seem to ihave risen more from proverbs and saylings than from any actual occurrence. '“A red sky at night is the sailor’s relight,” is quite a common saying, * reIjnark which also applies to: — I Evening red and morning grey | Are tokens of a bonny day. The latter is of Scottish origin. France, Italy, and Germany have the same idea. Cats, by the way, are considered by some people to be good weather prophets. When a cat licks her coat the wrong way, or sits with her baek to the fire, bad weather, according to some, invariably follows. " Sailors have a belief that ill-luck awaits them if the ship’s cat frisks round more than usual; while English country folk still say that if pussy scampers wildly about the house she has a “gale in her tail.’’ But, although cats are animals of originality, it would seem that such beliefs are merely based on. superstition. An interesting reading experiment is being made by the Public Works Department beyond Mourea, in the direction of Okere. Botorua (says the “New Zealand Herald”). It consists of forming the roads and then spraying them with crude oid and spreading a light coat of pumice over the oil. This is allowed to be used by the traffic, and the grader used frequently for a time. The top sets and forms a smooth tunning surface. If the experiment proves a success it will solve a bi" problem of reading for the County of Botorua. A portion of the RotoruaTaupo Bead was treated in this way about five weeks ago, and so far promises well. A stretch of road towards Napier has been done also for a longer period. The effect .of the oil is to keep out the moisture and by combining with the fine pumice making a waterproof jacked on the running surface.