328 A HISTORY OF 



being raised, disclosing a stage room, communicating 

 directly with a roadway, so that large or heavy objects 

 can be brought straight into the theatre without 

 trouble. The floor between this room and the lec- 

 turer's table can be raised to the level of the table, 

 thus providing a raised platform, which is used for 

 musical recitals. Mr. Samuel Geoghegan, c.e., was 

 good enough to furnish plans for the platform and 

 screen. 



Electrical energy for lighting, and for driving the 

 ventilating fans, is supplied from an installation in the 

 basement, including a 30 h.p. steam-engine. The 

 waste steam is used for heating. 



The organ with which the theatre is furnished 

 was constructed by Messrs. Henry Willis & Sons, 

 London. It contains four complete manuals from 

 CC to A — 58 notes, and two octaves and a half of 

 concave and radiating pedals — 30 notes. There are 

 thirty-four speaking stops, with 1946 pipes and eight 

 accessories. The first public performance took place 

 on April the 20th, 1899, when Mr. R. G. Sinclair, 

 organist of Hereford Cathedral, gave a recital. 



The chemical laboratory adjoins the theatre, and 

 consists of a principal room equipped with working 

 benches, and extensive fume chambers, which admit of 

 all kinds of operations being carried on without any 

 risk of the air of the room being overheated or con- 

 taminated. There is a second room furnished with 

 various types of air pumps, which is used mainly for 

 work involving the handling of gases. A third room 

 is furnished with balances, microscopes, spectroscopes, 

 and other optical apparatus. On the story above these 

 are a large glass-roofed room and a dark room for 

 photographic work. 



An installation for the liquefaction of air and of 



