1918.] The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. 
107 
Some of the charts have already been lent to amateur astronomers, and 
the remainder are available for loan to those who are prepared to observe 
the variables. Applications for the loan of charts should be addressed to 
the Government Astronomer, Hector Observatory, Wellington. 
Greenwich Time. 
An old legal blunder, which is constantly cropping up at some petty- 
sessional Court, consists in computing “ sunset ” by Greenwich time instead 
of local time. Under various Acts of Parliament persons riding in vehicles 
“ during the period between one hour after sunset and one hour before 
sunrise ” must comply with certain rules as to lights there laid down, but 
which have been greatly modified under the Defence of the Realm Regu¬ 
lations. Now, under the Definition of Time Act, 1880, “ Greenwich time 55 
is to be treated as the standard for the purpose of any Act of Parliament. 
Hence, at one time, Justices not unnaturally supposed that “ sunset 55 was 
to be ascertained by taking the Greenwich almanac. But “ sunset ” is not 
a “ time ” within the meaning of the Act—it is a ct season,” and the exact 
time at any particular place must be ascertained by evidence. The decision 
we have quoted is now the accepted law in this point .—(The Law Journal.) 
Comet 1846 IV (De Vico). 
P. Hiigler gives the following search-ephemerides for Comet 1846 IV 
(De Vico) : 
Perihelion.. 
1921, Nov. 20 
1920, Nov. 21 
1919, Nov. 20 
1918, Nov. 20 
1917 Nov. 20 
1917- 
-18. 
R.A. Dec. 
h. m. o 
R.A. 
h. m. 
Dec. 
O 
R.A. 
h. m. 
Dec. 
O 
R.A. 
li. m. 
Dec. 
O 
R.A. 
h. m. 
Dec. 
O 
April 
1 .. 
17 
48 -69-9 
18 
3 
-72-6 
18 
37 
-76*3 
20 
42 
-80-9 
2 
5 
-69-0 
May 
11 .. 
17 
28 -72-0 
17 
39 
-75-2 
18 
8 
-80-1 
22 
50 
-86-1 
4 
0 
-60*1 
June 
20 .. 
16 
50 -72-4 
16 
43 
-76-0 
16 
20 
-81*4 
8 
23 
-86-9 
5 
34 
-50*1 
July 
30 .. 
16 
18 —71-1 
15 
58 
-74*3 
15 
5 
-78-6 
10 
54 
-81*7 
6 
56 
—42*4 
Sept. 
8 .. 
16 
11 -69*1 
15 
52 
— 71*7 
15 
6 
-75*3 
12 
26 
-78*4 
8 
10 
-36*6 
Oct. 
18 .. 
16 
26 -67-6 
16 
13 
-70-0 
15 
44 
— 73*4 
14 
1 
-77*9 
9 
41 
— 27-1 
Nov. 
27 .. 
16 
53 -67*1 
16 
49 
-69-6 
16 
41 
-73-1 
16 
6 
-79-3 
15 
49 
+21-9 
Jan. 
6 .. 
17 
24 -67-8 
17 
32 
-70*4 
17 
49 
-74*2 
19 
17 
-80-7 
18 
15 
+ 17-5 
Feb. 
15 .. 
17 
52 -69*6 
18 
12 
-72-5 
19 
5 
-76-6 
23 
4 
-78-1 
18 
53 
+ 15-2 
Mar. 
27 .. 
18 
3 -72-2 
18 
36 
-75-8 
20 
3 
-80*3 
1 
48 
-71*0 
18 
56 
+ 17-3 
The values of log. r are 1*092 4 years before perihelion, 1*012 3 years 
before perihelion, 0*895 2 years before perihelion, 0*686 1 year before peri¬ 
helion. 
Dr. A. C. D. Crommelin states that we can increase the dates of 
column 1 by a year if we also increase the assumed time of perihelion by 
a year. 1921, November, is considered the most probable time of perihelon 
passage, but the uncertainty is estimated as 3 years. It will be seen that 
the opportunity for search is limited to southern observers. 
