FIND OF IRONSTONE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19942, 29 October 1934, Page 2

FIND OF IRONSTONE

METEOR THEORY DISPROVED Discovered on the farm of Mr H. Bannister, in Kairanga district, and thought possibly to be fragments of a fallen meteorite, several pieces of stone obviously containing iron were recently taken into Palmerston North for examination. Under a powerful microscope, Mr S. Jickell, formerly borough engineer in Palmerston, has been able to determine that they are definitely not pieces of leonids, because of their irregular surface. He said that even though they might have protuberances, meteors were always worn smooth on the surface by [their passage at terriffic speed toward the earth. The opinion Mr Jickell advanced is that the substance is ironstone of a similar nature to the natural mat discovered 3ft. under the ground level during early draining operations on the playing field of the Boys’ High School. It was of volcanic origin. It was recalled by Mr Jickell that in 1908 some residents of Palmerston had an alarming experience when a meteorite fell. It heralded its approach with a terrific roar, and struck the edge of the roadway just off the footpath, making a hole like a small shell crater, and breaking the water main.