272 A. LIVERSIDGE. 



that, in my office, just before the storm, I had moved from the 

 window, and suddenly I was so confused by the intense blackness 

 that I could not possibly tell where the window was placed, 

 and though knowing perfectly well in what part of the room 

 lucifers etc. were usually kept, I had to grope about for some 

 time before I could secure the means of kindling a light. As a 

 matter of fact I can say nothing stronger than that, it was dark- 

 ness that could be felt." — Geo. Eldridge. 



" Gundaroo, 30th December, 1885 

 "Such an unusual and strange occurrence took place here this 

 morning, that I thought I would communicate it to you. About 

 half-past six a.m. on looking out the whole of the hills in the dis- 

 tance, west and south, seemed enveloped in a cloud of dust or fog 

 which gradually rose and worked round south to east. About 

 seven, the hills west were cleared, but the dust hung in mid air 

 like a cloud, excepting at two or three places, where it hung 

 as if the dust was falling like a shower of rain ; at about a quarter 

 past seven it had all blown in a body to the south, which was so 

 dense that the hills only a short distance away could not be seen, 

 and then it came blowing down direct north, it then took a north- 

 west direction and died away. Now at a quarter to eight a.m. 

 there is hardly a breath of air, with the sun shining out hot ; dur- 

 ing my thirty-one years residence in this part I never saw the like 

 before, and thought such a strange occurrence deserved notice 

 being taken of, and this is my reason for troubling you with the 

 details." — William Affleck. 



The following articles and letters upon atmospheric dust 

 and dust storms from other parts of the world are not only 

 interesting, but they throw a great deal of light upon the 

 subject of meteoric or atmospheric dust and dust phe- 

 nomena generally as experienced in Australia, many more 

 examples could have been given, especially if the meteoro- 

 logical publications had been laid under contribution; those 

 given are some of those noted down in the ordinary course 

 of reading. 



