GENERAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14325, 15 October 1910, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

A MOCK MOON. A Wellington resident reports that on Saturday last, while on a visit to Lower Hutt, lio and several others witnessed a peculiar phenomenon. About 9.15 p.m. their attention was arrested by the appearance of an unusual object in the sky over Mount Victoria, wliicli they at first concluded to be a fire balloon. However, a few minutes' observation convinced the party that they were looking at the moon, which they had seen earlier in the evening., setting in the direction of east by smith-e:-.st. The "new moon" was of particular brilliancy, and resembled the old time-honoured one in every particular. The outer ring was quite distinct. The spectacle, had, it was explained by one of The party, been viewed from Lower Hutt on a previous occasion. Questioned about the matter by a "Post" representative, the Rev. D. M. Bates, Government Meteorologist, said that '■he unusual "appearance" was probably what as known in scientific circles as a " mock moon," a deceptive creation sometimes produced by certain peculiar conditions prevalent when the atmosphere was of a humid nature.. The phenomenon had often occurred in various parts of the. world.

NEW 'FRISCO SERVICE. The new service to San Francisco is to be inaugurated by the Aorangi leaving Wellington on Wednesday next and Auckland on October 22. Inquiries have been made with a view of ascertaining what efforts, if any, are being made to lay the foundations of a trade between the Dominion and San Franciso (states "The Dominion") It appears that almost the whole of the cold storage space (somo 10,000 ft) has been engaged for the first voyage by Mr Sydney Kidman, "the cattle King" of South Australia, who intends to send a cargo of frozen lamb and mutton across the Pacific. The Wellington Meat Export Company intend sending up a small consignment of frozen beet, and some of the butter merchants are seeking to establish selling agents in 'Frisco. There is at present little prospect of much dairy produce going forward by the first boat because of a doubt which exists as to whether it would be handled properly at its port of destination. It may be that one or a combination of the butter firms will send a man to 'Frisco (where butter is reported to bo selling at over half a dollar per lb) to place the trade on a workable basis. As far as can be gathered not much general cargo will go forward by tho Aorangi. Merchants who may be regarded as likely to try the new field have not yet arranged for correspondents or agents, and until that is dons shippers will not risk sending goods which might not find purchasers*

THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. "A feature of this expedition is its Imperialism. The personnel represents England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Most of the seamen are lirst-class petty officers of the .Uoyal Navy. Some of them have been out" to the ieo with Captain Scott before, and some of them were with Lieutenant Evans on the Morning when she went to the relief of the Discovery in 1 ( J0'.2-3, : ' says Dr S. A-. Wilson, who takes charge of the scientific stall' in Captain Scott's Antarctic expedition. '' Wo have a bigger and better scientific staff than we ever had before," added Dr Wilson; '• and with the added advantage of our motor sledges we are practically certain to reach the Pole. Reaching the Pole is largely a. matter of transport. If we can get the necessary food to I'ast us far enough south we will plant the Union Jack at the Pole. If wo did nothing else it would bo worth the risk. Captain Scott lias tried those sledges under practical conditions in Norway and Switzerland, and they have answered their purpose. We are very strong in Uoyal Navy men. Lieutenant Evans is a very experienced navigator, and lias been teaching navigation in the lioval Navy. Captain Scott regards him as a great acquisition, especially in respect of survey work. We have another first-class navigator in Lieutenant Pennell .R.N. He will undertake a good deal of the magnetic work on the ship, and remain on her after we have been deposited on the ice with out huts. Other Royal Navy men are Lieutenant Rennick Lieutenant Rowers, and Lieutenant R.ilev, who goes as chief engineer. Two other medical men besides myself will accompany the expedition. They are l) r Atkinson and Dr Levick, both Roval Navv surgeons. Dr Atkinson is an'expert bacteriolnsxist and parasitolodist The two biologists with us are Messrs D. 0. Lillie and E. W. Nelson. Both are Cambridge Tnivcrsity men, and have worked at the Plymouth biological' laboratory. We have also two ohysicians with us, Dr Simj>son and Mr C. 0. Wriejit, the latter of Canada and Cambridge. Two Australians will be in the geological section. One is Mr T. Griffith Taylor."

AM OLD LANDMARK CONE. An old and interesting Timaru landmark was deniali.'iliod (hiring the past' week the quaint little wooden buildin »■ mi Cain's Terrace that formerly did duty c.s a. light-house being purled down. ' But lew, oven of the old identities, can reinenihor when it was first ereeted —some say over GO years ago. One of tliein. speaking to a. "Herald" reporter last evening, said that it had a good record at any rate. Kine weather or foul it had never lured a. good ship to its doom, though, often sturdy mariners had condemned! it becauso it harboured a light that had a tendency to fail on windy nights. Kerosene was used in economical quantities, and with the advent of a shrieking nor-wester or a stinging southerly, the flame often flickered and wont out. Still Timaru had always been classed as a safe port, and trifling idiosyncrasies of tin's nature on no occasion caused an enquiry or sent a trading vessel upon the beach. NORTH END PARK. Last night the matter of scouring a park for the north end of the town was advanced another stage, when a conference was held between tho Borough Council and members of the North. End Park Committee. The De-puty-Mayor presided, and there were also present, Councillors Gilchrist Raymond, Sealer, Angland, Beck, Watson, Oboru and Satterthwaite, and Messrs R. H. Bowie, E. J. Penrose, V. Parker, D. Jiyers, A. Bell, and Dr Cox. The discussion on the various sites was taken in committee, and occupied an hour and a half. At the close of the discussion a, motion was carried that the Council be recommended to purchase of properties at Waimataitai offered by Mrs Woollcombe .(per Mr M. J. Knubley) and Mrs Munro. Mrs Woollcombe's property contains 10 J acres and has a frontage of 9 chain* to le Raitaweka, road. Mrs Mnnro's property contains U acres and has a frontage of 5 chains to a road running „ J", e , majn nort ' l roa <J -it the foot of Belheld Hill. The two properties are separated by a creek, wliich it is proposed to either fill in or bridge.