360 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
to perform any of the duties discussed unless they stand 
approved and recommended by those in all parts of the Colony 
who take an interest in such subjects. That my suggestions will 
have the good tortune to secure so wide and hearty a welcome 
is more than I can hope for; but I put them forward, trusting 
that they may help to secure agreement on a common course of 
action among the friends of science in the Colony, and to direct 
public opinion in these important and far-reaching questions.” 
THE FORTHCOMING ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.—In the course - 
of a very interesting lecture on “The Sun,” delivered by Dr. 
Hector in Wellington on 29th September, the lecturer, referring 
to the eclipse of the sun which will take place in 1885, remarked 
that it would occur about 7.30 am. on Wednesday, 9th Septem- 
ber. “The sun will rise partially eclipsed, but at a point in the 
ocean between this and Tasmania, he will rise wholly eclipsed, 
and would be thus seen by any person who may be fortunate 
enough to be-in the exact spot. The only land it will cross 
during its totality will be from Cape Farewell on the West to 
Flat Point on the East Coast; it then passes over the Pacific 
Ocean. The greatest duration of total darkness will be 1 min. 
51 secs., but in Wellington the duration will be I min. 23 secs. 
The central line and longest period of darkness will pass over 
Porirua and Featherston. At Nelson the duration will be about 
I min. 3 secs. The eclipse will take place about an hour and a 
half after sunrise, and the sun will on rising be a little larger 
than a half moon. At totality, begins to be noticed the pheno- 
menon known as Baily’s Beads, which will be immediately fol- 
lowed by a peculiar twinkling light, which unfortunately, how- 
ever, will only be observed by those who possess good instru- 
ments, and then probably a few of the prominences of the sun 
will be visible. Then will follow a sudden effulgence of the 
corona, or the ‘glory’ of the sur, shining with a steady silvery 
light.” ) 
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