THE SOLAR ECLIPSE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10761, 8 May 1911, Page 2

THE SOLAR ECLIPSE.

MAGNIFICENT VIEW FROM THE ISLANDS. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, May 7. The following message from Mr Clement Wragge arrived to-day by the steamer Purley, which called at the Islands en route from San Francisco: "I organised a special eclipse expedition to Lifuca and;Moungaone Island. A magnificent'view was obtained, with a cloudless sky during the entire period of totalitv, the weird light culminating with a purple darkness over the ocean, and.the ripple of the palms affording a unique spectacle. Altogether ten photographs of the total phase were secured, besides others during the progress oh the eclipse, and three'sketches. The hydrogen flames were especially marked on the S.E. and N.E. quadrants, some leaping higher.than others from, a continuous ridge of red flame. The biggest red flames exceeded 173,000 miles on the S.W. and N.E. quadrant. Four great corona? appeared (two from each quadrant), and they extended from the sun's limb to over 400,000 miles. Observing also with the telescope, it was most interesting watching the obscuring by the moon of a huge sunstorm fully 30,000 miles in diameter. The natives rushed into their houses in mgfl.t. Venus was a striking object in the eastern sky. At Vavau, unfortunately, the sky was reported cloudy, and the observations there were marred m consequence. The photographs have been sealed up, and will be developed m New Zealand."