THE COMET.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14210, 26 May 1910, Page 6

THE COMET.

AYAS EVERYBODY "SOLD?" Mr J\[. A. iirouu. of Denbrae, Waiau, Amuri, writes to tbo '•LyUelton Tunes" : V\ a were rather surprised on reading to-day's (r'riday) paper to learn that none ot : the astronomers had witnessed Halley's comet, jh its transit of the sun. ] take it that they were a. little out in their calculations. 1 am almost certain that the. comet crossed the sun's disc on Thursday, JUay JHlii, between 7 and !) a.m. We watched it almost cotuimiuu.sly for oyer an hour, and it was a sight we shall never forget. The iirst thing to attract our attention was the peculiar rays projecting from the sun. This was about 7.25 a.m. About five minutes afterwards something appeared in front of the sun, which ihekered and dazzled for some minutes in a blinding manner, then settled down over it in the form of a white opaque shade, when for nearly an hour wo could look at the. sun with the naked eye. After that, it began to clear, and the sun's rays got too strong. Meantime there were peculiar rainbow tints on the hills all round. While this opaque shade was over the sun the atmosphere got much colder. If this phenomenon were not caused by the comet crossing the sun's disc can yon bring forward any other theory to account for it? The only reason I can adduce for many people- not seeing this unique sight is t tint everyone was expecting the transit 1o take place between 1.01 l and 9 p.m., consequently they were not thinking of it. I have given you the time as near as T can, as living in the country our clocks are not. nhvavs reliable, but the sen bad not lung risen above the hills. I have got three grown-up sons who, as well as myself, will vouch for the truth of this sstateir.ent.