TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 153 



plicated form of indicator would be useful in open places in large towns, the 

 direction and distances to clim-ches, railway stations, tlieatres, &c. being given. 

 The tops of letter pillar-boxes being provided with such information, would assist 

 strangers as to distances and cab-fares. 



On the Methods for Testing the Speed of Vessels over the Measured Mile. 

 By Admiral Sir E. Beichee, K.C.B. 



The author pointed out that the trial of a vessel over one mile could not be 

 considered any test of her real speed or capabilities ; besides which, he thought 

 the taking the speed should not be entnisted to those on board. He considered 

 that the force and action of the tides had not been duly ascertained, inasmuch as 

 experience had shown him that, while the surface-tide appeared by the buoys to 

 be running a strong ebb, an undercmTent was running flood, and exercising a con- 

 siderable influence on the body of the vessel immersed. This underneath cm-rent 

 he thought would vitiate any results obtained by the course generally pursued for 

 testing the speed of vessels. He would suggest a series of experiments similar to 

 those can-ied out by himself at Kingston in 1835 to test the strength of this under- 

 cm-rent. He proposed further that the speed should be tested on terra firma, 

 where umpires should decide, by a pair of fixed theodolites, the times of transit. 

 Taking away from those on board any control over the starting moment, he would 

 cause them to indicate by intersections, every ten minutes, the exact course the 

 vessel had pursued. As regards the mode of "trial, the run should be for twenty- 

 four hours at least. She should have a supply of coal for thirty hours. At the 

 end of the run, her remaining coal should be carefully measured, the general tem- 

 perature of the engine-room should be carefully noted, the condition of the paint 

 on her funnel examined, to ascertain whether the firing has been excessive, and a 

 fidl report should be made as to how she had behaved against a head sea, her 

 easiness of steering, &c. 



On Beaping-Machinery. By the Eev. P. Bell. 



After giving an account of the modes of reaping corn in use from the earliest 

 times, pointing out how little alteration had been made in them down to modern 

 days, the author narrated the cii-cumstances under which he had been led to give 

 his attentioji to the subject, and ultimately to succeed in constructing, in the year 

 1828, a reaping machine, which, although it did not tlien come into general use, 

 was efficient for the purpose, and which, in fact, was, with scarcely any alteration, 

 the reaping machine of the present day. 



On an Iron Camh for Power Looms. By James K. Caird. 



On the Birmingham Wire Gauge. By Latimer Clark. 

 The object of the paper was to point out the necessity for having a recognized 

 standard gauge. The author proposed the appointment of a committee to inves- 

 tigate and report upon the subject. The difierences which now existed in the 

 various gauges in use made serious differences in contracts — in one instance in 

 which the author was concerned a money difference of £8000 in one contract. 



On J. R. iSivan's Improved Calcining Kilns. By J. Eckeesley. 



The Results of E.vperiments on the Rigidity of Glass, Brass, and Steel. 

 By Dr. J. D. Everett. 

 The author described the ingenious arrangements by which the experiments 

 were carried on, and the minute deflections measured.' Cylindrical rods, about 

 one-third of an inch in diameter, of flint-glass, dr&vra brass and steel, were alter- 

 nately bent and twisted by known couples, so applied that the couple (whether 

 of flexure or tension) was always uniform through the whole length of the rod. 

 The amounts of bending and twisting thus produced in a given portion of the 



