FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23425, 15 August 1939, Page 6

FIFTY YEARS AGO

PROVING THE EARTH FLAT Although ancient philosophers had advanced the theory that the world was round, and latfer scientists had prove the fact beyond doubt, oO years ag° there were still sceptical people trying to prove that.it was flat. The lollop ing extract is from a report o an Auckland meeting held to -*. urt f." this view, which was published ui ti New Zealand Heiuld of August if, 1889: - ■ , "3lr. C. H. Clemens introduced tne subject, giving a number of argtunen in favour of the plane theory. He hibited several diagrams in suppor the views he set forth, and said t » experiments had been made on ca , 1 and tracts of water which were 1 for miles, proving that, the enrttt flat. He also instanced the fn<s tua some lighthouses were seen bv a ess sea for 40 or more miles away. , stated that by the generally accepted globular theory they would be sight, owing to the earth s cun. q He went into the subject at so length, dealing with eclipses, gSO navigation, etc., prd arguing t things couid be pntisfac tori 1 ye. P• „ by those who held the flat