A COSMIC CRISIS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 7 June 1927, Page 7

A COSMIC CRISIS

(To the Editor) Sir, —Fortunately, I lit* planets Mars anil Saturn lire .still rapidly receding from llio earth. As staled letter tajE, 9th J.-UHniry) liyturo vJw at its ri wreak upprooch to Uie- on hw M(k’ May, irA Mars <>n_the 27th Oct oiler, 1926. Since then lin-y ha.vo put many millions of miles farther away from us, and their malefic inductions cmmeeled will) distance and gravitational iillonsi(y have been very lunch minced, thus enabling us by the skin of the teeth to escape very serious wars and devitalising epidemics. The aspects of Saturn with (lie sun, moon and planets, as distinct from the factor of distance, are still, however, of considerable account, and besides this, there are now the erratic influences of cometarv visitors to be considered. Since January we. have bad the “more staid and regular seasons, and less erratic local weather conditions,” i then predicted. Hut tlm cosmic, situation now immediately before us, as concerns (lie earth in gen<ral, is of very unusual importance 111 relation to storms, floods and earthquakes; and it, demands the serious attention of the world's scientific and social benefactors.

In this ago of applied science we cannot afford to ignore the influence of our more immeyiaito cosmic environment; especially as concerns its hearing on meteorological and seismic phenomena. This has been abundantly evinced, by the disastrous floods and hurricanes reported recently from America, and from many other parts of the world. How ever erratic these may appear to (ho uninitiated, they are all governed by' the Divine and well-known laws of Nature; and I contend that, without altogether ignoring local geological a tic* geographical factors, they may be true o'cl to celestial rather than terrestrial causes. This is in the teeth of the theory commonly taught in the scientific, tcht hooks, attributing all seismic disturbances to forces originating beneath the earth's surface. Quite a number of astronomical factors, of a very exceptional character, are now once more in evidence; and to a large, extent their effects may be computed, and even local ised, on the commonly accepted Newtonian laws of gravitation.

The great Sir Isaac Newton, lived and did his epoch-making work over 200 years ago, when cosmological science was only in its infancy. Ho did not snow what we know to-day about even, tho extent, structure and contents of our solar system, and much less about tlie influence of the asteroids and short period comets. Even the major planets 'Jranus and Neptune, with their satellites, were not then discovered, Newton's calculations concerning the plant, tary and cometary perturbations, therefore, could not possibly be correct in many important respects. They have not been "confirmed even by Einstein’s recent calculations and utterances. And the fact, that Einstein’s figures so closely coincide with those of Newton proves beyond question, as frequently pointed out in my published letters, that even Einstein’s calculations and deductions, are very much wide of the mark, especially as concerns the influence of gravity on light. Newton was born 25th December, 1642, and died on the 20th March, 1727. This year we therefore celebrate the bicentenary of his death. All honour be to his memory. But we must, not be slaves to authority and tradition, especially where vital truths are at stake. In the light of many important discoveries made by astronomers during the last 200 venr.s, and more especially in our own generation, we are notv able to detect some serious flaws in the laws of gravity as worked out arid formulated mostly by Kepler and Newton, Nevertheless we should not fail to pay due honour to the mighty achievements and memory of these masterly mathematicians, who so largely helped to lay the foundations of modern astronomy and even of optical and observational science.

Botli Kepler and Newton were mostly concerned with what we may term the mechanics and dynamics of our solar system. Botli were well aware, of course, that lunar, solar and planetary positions and aspects had much to do with the physical conditions prevailing on the earth and in its atmosphere. Astronomers and astrologers in all ages and countries had been aware of this fact in a general sense; and they had occasionally made correct predictions, in spite of much incompetent fortune telling nonsense, such ns dogs the path of all important revelations. Working largely on independent lines of research, I many years ago came to the definite conclusion that all great storms and earthquakes, and even many thermal and volcanic eruptions, as well as very exceptional weather conditions, are caused by astronomical move than, by geological and local agencies; and can, therefore, bo calculated and predicted months and often years in advance, with such precision even as to time and locality as to make this branch of physiographies! science a mailer of profound economic (and even of social and national) importance. It is of such vast moment not only in insular and volcanic countries like New Zealand; but in all countries specially subject to violent tor-1 nadocs and earthquakes, and swept by! targe rivers and mountain streams (such as the Mississippi); and more especially if their coasts are exposed to ocean waves, as are those of Japan, Australasia and many of the South Sea Islands.

I have stated and expounded this thesis for over twenty years through many of the New Zealand newspapers. I have repeatedly proved the validity of my reasoning by prognosticating nearly all notablo storms, floods and seismic phenomena during flint period. My conclusions of course, are dead against the commonly accepted theory that the primary cause of earthquakes arid upheavals and faultings of the earth’s crust is to be found within the earth itself. And yet neither mv conclusions nor premises have been 'either refuted or seriously controverted by men of scientific standing. With a view of further corroboration, and from purely humanitarian motives, I once more venture to predict on the same astronomic ground’s (chiefly in regard to the relative planetary positions, and the influence of comets) that the next forthcoming month of June towards its beginning, middle and end (especially about the 3rd, the 15th and the 29th June) will be marked by very exceptional storms, floods, colliery explosions, earth tremors, thermal and volcanic eruptions; also by unusually heavy seas, cloudbursts and tidal waves. These will affect- many countries throughout the earth, and even New Zealand will not go entirely unscathed. —T am, etc.,

JOSEPH TAYT.OP Nelson, 25th May.