THE AURORA AUSTRALIA

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1144, 15 April 1870, Page 2

THE AURORA AUSTRALIA

Sir, —lt seems strange that no notice whatever has been taken by the Napier papers of the brilliant Aurora A uatm I is, seen on the night of the sth, or rather morning of the 6th instant, between twelve and one o'clock. I was fortunate enough to be about at the time, and never witnessed a more gorgeous celestial phenomenon. The red light first appeared in the south-east, about a quarter-past twelve, and faded in a few minutes. Suddenly it showed itself in the west, and south-west, and increased in extent and richness of colour —quite bloodred at times —gradually dying out about one o'clock. Occasionally rays of white light shot up through the red, and quivered for a few seconds before disappearing. The effect was beyond description. I find the Otago and Wellington papers report an Aurora on the evening of the 2i_nd March; said to be very brilliant in Otago. As there is considerable doubt as to the cause of the phenomenon, the following letter from the Independent may be interesting. It is from " Observer," a correspondent who has more than once given evidence of considerable scientific attainments. I am, &c, R. Macfarlane.