IN THE DAYS OF THE GOMET.

West Coast Times, 18 March 1910, Page 4

IN THE DAYS OF THE GOMET.

NOTHING TO FEAR, PALMERSTON N., March 14. Some wicked designs have recently been attributed to Halley’s comet which, according to some scientists, is likely to give the earth a neighbourly flick with its tail in passing, and produce atmnspherial changes which will either result in the human race dancing to death in a delirium of delight owing to the increased percentage of oxygen in the air, or suffocating miserably. A scientist, at present in Auckland, is, however, inclined to think more kindly of the comet than this.

Mr F. K. M'C’lean, F.R.A.S., who is passing through on his way to Tasmania, where he will view the total eclipse of the sun on May 9 thinks that the comet has been sadly maligned, and that instead of being a terrestial lion it will be only one of the pet lambs of infinitude. The comet, he thinks, will be quite a tame affair this trip, shorn of much of its former terrific glory, and its tail will not be dense enough to penetrate our atmosphere. He considers that it is an encouraging fact that, in 1182, our earth negotiated a more fearsome tail than Halley's comet is likely to have, and the world still wakes to work on Monday morning. Up to the present Halley’s comet has not formed a beacon in the sky, but j the person who knows where to look l for it has been able to recognise it as a hazy blob in both the northern and southern hemispheres. But the person who does not know comets excessively would pass it by for a star. The dreadful tail has not developed yet, but comets never do show their tails

till they approach the sun, and are generally most alarming after leaving the sun. So, of course, Halley’s comet will lie at its best about the middle of May, but the worst, Mr M'Lean fears, is electrical effects such as auroras and deviation of the compass. Even for this the mariner need hardly trouble as the effect will probably be less than that of a big electrical storm.