THE DIFFICULTY ABOUT UNIVERSAL TIME.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1532, 8 April 1885, Page 3

THE DIFFICULTY ABOUT UNIVERSAL TIME.

Profp B*or Norman Lockyer, F. R 8., in the latter part of January tlelivered a lecture on "Universal Time," at tie rtonia, which was of a kind adapted to a juvenile audience, was illustrated throughout with a large number of working models and views of the solar and planetary systems, and the electris liifht by raean3 of which the lecturer succeeded in conveying bis ideas and explanation to his youthful auditory in a ple4saut and satisfactory manner. Commencing with an illusttation of the revolution of the earth, and an explanation of the phenomena of night snd day, the professor proceeded to describe what is known as the meridian and the manner iv which observations were taken at the various places, explaining at the same time the differ ence between mean and sidereal- time.---l laving shown in a satisfactory manner how it was that the "tim« varied in diftermit parts of the world, heremarked that it was of course perfectly neceSßary f»jr some purposes that there should be what is known &s a local mean time for each country ; bnt pointed oht how desirable it was that there should be a universal time also — a fact that had been so generally recognised ' that provision for its establishment had at last been made by the Congress which had recently concluded its labours at Washington, and which had agreed to accept the Greenwich meridian, and count frrtin midnight up to 24 hours. Iv addition to the great benefits that the adoption of this system wonld confer on scientific meu it would also prove of great use in the ordinary business of life. Most of the chief telegraphic om«e* in the world were under the control of Englishmen, and the adoption of a uniform time would tavo a vast amount of work to employes, whilst receivers of telegrams would also be assisted. Its adoption by railway companies would also be a boon, and he expressed the *pinion that the new system wonld shortly be in general operation. Many ways kad j been suggested by which the change in j watches aad clocks could be effected, ' but nothing in general had yet been decide 1 upon. It wonld, however never do to have the clocks striking 24, *c the condition of a man going home and endeavouring te ascertain whether the clocks wero striking 23 or 24 would be most d#«peratc.