3/8 TRAN'SAOIUXS OF SnciIiTIliS. 



discussL'd the problems of those phices wlicrc the provision <if a generat ng 

 plant is necessary. 



Thursday, May i6th, Prof. J. H. Dobson, D.S.O., M.Sc, M.Eng., 

 Al.I.Mech.E., M.I.E.E., President, in the chair. — " Ttiibine house plant 

 operation: zvitli special reference to the Rand I'ozver Companies' plants": 

 T. G. Otley. and V. Pickles. The autliors discussed some of the salient 

 points connected with the efficient operation of turl)ine plant and its 

 attendant auxiliaries. With regard to increasing efficiencies, there was a 

 twofold problem : ( i ) how to use coal to the fullest advantage, both w:th 

 regard to extracting the maximum amount of heat energy from it and 

 also the recovery of innumerable by-products which it contains; (j) how 

 to use to the fullest extent the heat available, when coal is used, either 

 directly or indirectly for generating steam in boilers. 



Thursday, July i8ih : Prof. J. II. Dobson, D.S.O., IVI.Sc., M.luig., 

 M.I.Mech.E., M.I.E.E., President, in the chair. — '' Guarantees for tempera- 

 ture rise in electrical machinery : zvith special reference to large turbo- 

 generators" ' A. E. Du Pasquier. The author sought tt) show that, at 

 least in all large units, a more scientific basis than that now customary 

 amongst engineers for estimating temperature rise should l)e adopted, and 

 urged that, as it is sound engineering to work all materials, employed in 

 the construction of any piece of apparatus up to the maximum safe limit, 

 there is no good reason for restricting temperature rises, provided suitable 

 materials are obtainable for withstanding the heat conditions that may 

 arise. 



Thursday, November 2ist : Prof. J. H. Dobson. D.S.O., M.Sc-, M.Eng., 

 M.I.Mech.E., M.I.E.E., President, in the chair. — " Atmospheric electric 

 effects and hailstorms " : R. T. A. Innes. The probaljle efficiency of 

 some of the suggested methods of preventing hailstorms were discussed, 

 and mention was made of the desirabilitv of insurance against damage by 

 hail. 



South African Sociktv of Civil Enginef.rs. — Wednesday, April 

 loth : Prof. A. E. Snape, M.Sc, A.M.I.C.E.. Past President, m the' chair.— 

 "Electrification of Railzi'ays": Prof. 11. Bohle. The subject was 

 approached from the commercial aspect, and steam and electric traction 

 compared. Relative cost elticiency was discussed, and electrification was 

 considered from a traffic standpoint. In dealing with the circumstances 

 under which electrihcation has usually been justified, the author specially 

 mentioned urban and suburban service, fast passenger service, and goods 

 traffic. In illustration of the general stibject, the proposed electrii'ication 

 of the Melbourne urban and siduirban lines was discussed in detail. In 

 the concluding part of the paper the author dealt with the various classes 

 of electric locomotives. 



Wednesday, May 8th : W. Craig, M.I.C.E., Vice-President, in tlie 

 chair. — "Irrigation IVorks in t';e Sundays River ]' alley": \. S. Bridg- 

 man. The Sundays River, with a total catchment area of appro.ximateiy 

 7,6oo square miles, rises in the Sneeuv,d)erg Mountains, in the GraatT- 

 Reinet district, and, after crossing the Karroo, flows through a deep gorge 

 27 miles long, in the Zuurberg Mountains, on to wide fertile Hats, 

 known as the Sundays River Valley. These fiats consist of rich alluvial 

 Karroo soil and silt, underlain by gravel beds, affording excellent drainage, 

 the fertility of the soil being maintained by the silt coming in the irriga- 

 tion waters. The valley is irrigated by three schemes : ( 1 ) the Strath- 

 somers Estates, (2) the Selborne, and (,?) the Sundays River Settlements, 

 each scheme having its own diversion weir and irrigation system. r)f 

 these schemes the Sundays River Settlements is the Ijiggest, and was 

 described in detail by the author. This scheme, when fully complete, 

 will irrigate about 27,000 acres. In this connection a scheme for the 

 storage of flood waters ha-, been undertaken, and will be situated in the 

 district of Jansenville, two or three miles above the gorge, in the Zuur- 

 berg Mountains. The storage capacity of the conservation dam will I'C 

 120.000 acre feet. In this connection the Union Director of Irrigation, in 



