214 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



[Mar. 



TECHNICAL EDUCATION NOTES. 



National Association for the Promotion of Technical 

 Education. — The Executive Committee of the North of 

 England Branch of this Association have passed the following 

 resolutions : — 



1. That public funds (rates and taxes) should not be em- 

 ployed to meet the current expenses of teaching specific 

 trades. 



2. That it is undesirable that instruction in the use of tools 

 should be introduced into primary schools as a grant-earning 

 subject. 



3. That with a view to preparing pupils for technical edu- 

 cation later on — 



(a) The grant to day-schools should depend, to a much 

 less extent than at present, on the results of the exami- 

 tion of individual pupils in reading, writing, and arith- 

 metic, and should be largely dependent on the 

 inspector's report of the general character of the teach- 

 ing and of the equipment of the school. 



(b) There should be greater liberty in the choice of 

 subjects in primary schools, and the same class subject 

 should not necessarily be taken throughout the 

 school. 



■(c) The grant to evening continuation schools should be 

 regulated by the report of the inspector on the 

 character of the teaching, and on the attendance list, 

 and not upon the result of the examination of indi- 

 vidual pupils. 



4. That when a technical school is combined with a science 

 and art school, the contribution to the building fund, through 

 the Science and Art Department, should exceed _£i,ooo if, in 

 the opinion of the Department, the requirements of the 

 locality demand it. 



5. That it is desirable that, when specific trades are taught 

 in technical schools, the practical teaching of each trade 

 should be under the general direction of a committee, con- 

 sisting mainly of members of that trade ; that the teaching 

 should be given in the evening, and be restricted to pupils 

 actually engaged in the respective trades, and that, when 

 specific trades are taught, any deficiency in current expenses 

 should be guaranteed by the trade of the district. 



6. That a certain percentage of persons preparing for ap- 

 pointments as teachers in elementary schools should be 

 allowed to attend lectures and laboratory work at Universities 

 and University Colleges, where a curriculum satisfactory to 

 the Education Department is provided, and that the same 

 grant should be made on account of such students as in the 

 case of ordinary training Colleges. 



7. That it is desirable that University Colleges in which 

 higher scientific and technological training are combined 

 should be assisted by a Government grant, provided that 

 evening instruction is given in all the subjects taught, at fees 

 which shall bring the advantages of the College within the 

 reach of all classes. The due administration of the grant 

 should be secured by the appointment of certain nominees 

 of the Government on the Executive Council of the 

 College. 



■K>»^i^5.f-» 



Students in Germany. — The number of students 

 inscribed in the various German universities this winter 

 is 26,945. At Berlin there are 5,478 ; Munich, 3,414 ; 

 Leipzig, 3,288 ; Halle, 1,501 ; Breslau, 1,314; Tilbingen, 

 1,254; Bonn, 1,119; Greifswald, 1,141; Goettingen, 

 1,027; Strasburg, 886; Friburg, 884; Erlangen, 879; 

 Heidelburg, 832 ; Marburg, 863 ; Konigsberg, 807 ; 

 Giessen, 513 ; Jena, 581 ; Munster, 467 ; Kiel, 463 ; and 

 Rostock, 330. Of the total number 5,791 are studying 

 theology, 5,769 law, 6,650 medicine, and 8,735 science or 

 letters. One thousand six hundred and forty-four of the 

 students are foreigners. The English element is con- 

 spicuous. America is also well represented. 



RECENT INVENTIONS. 



The following list has been compiled especially for the Scientific 

 News, by Messrs. W. P. Thompson and Boult, Patent Agents, of 

 323, High Holborn, London, W.C.; Newcastle Chambers, Angel 

 Row, Nottingham ; Ducie Buildings, Bank Street, Manchester ; and 

 6, Lord Street, Liverpool. 



Candlestick. — Mr. F. Bosshardt, on behalf of Mr. J. T. 

 Warburton, New Zealand, has patented a candlestick, 

 designed to hold candles of various sizes. Two or more 

 spring arms are rivetted to the bottom of the candlestick, 

 and are curved upwards, the upper ends being curved 

 concavely to grip the candle. A disc attached to the 

 apex of the extinguisher is pressed against the bottom of 

 the candle to raise it. 



Hot Water Boiler. — Mr. W. L. Milne, of Hounslow 

 Road, New Hampton, has patented a boiler for heating 

 water for circulation in warming buildings. The inven- 

 tion consists in constructing a boiler of the saddle form, 

 provided with internal flue tubes at the sides, and 

 through the crown of the boiler. The flue tubes passing 

 through the water in the boiler thereby increase the 

 heating surface of the boiler and economises fuel. 



Fog Signalling Apparatus. — Mr. G. F. Attree, of 

 Hanover Crescent, Brighton, has patented an apparatus 

 for fog signalling. In carrying out this invention an 

 arm pivotted vertically is attached to the engine, 

 which is moved from its vertical position by coming in 

 contact with a projecting arm set by the signalman, such 

 movement of the engine-arm actuating the means 

 attached to the engine for warning the driver. 



Lawn-Tennis Marker. — Messrs. J. McHardy and R. 

 Bland, of North Britain, have patented a lawn tennis- 

 court marker. A deep narrow vessel diminishing in 

 size towards the bottom is provided with three rollers 

 and a wheel, over which a marking band passes, carrying 

 the marking liquid from the tank to the ground, when 

 the marker is wheeled along. One of the rollers is placed 

 at the bottom of the tank, in order that the whole of the 

 marking material may be used up, and a lid covers part 

 of the vessel, the belt itself forming a lid for the re- 

 mainder. 



Tea Blender. — Mr. E. Burke, of High Street, Dublin, 

 has patented a tea blender. Within the cylinder are 

 arranged a number of shelves or slides, each forming an 

 acute angle with the circumference of the cylinder. In 

 the central portion of the cylinder is arranged a disc or 

 diaphragm at an inclined angle to the axis, and held in 

 this position by a rod, the extremities of which are 

 secured to the ends of the cylinder by angle pieces. 

 This disc or diaphragm in rotating with the cylinder 

 assumes a peculiar rotatory motion, causing the tea or 

 other substance, undergoing treatment, to be thrown from 

 end to end of the cylinder. 



Almond-Splitting. — A machine for this purpose has 

 been patented by Mr. J. L. Collier, of 80, Gray's Inn Road, 

 London. The machine is constructed of two inclined 

 standards, between which are two rubber rollers, the top 

 roller resting upon the bottom one, and the two are 

 geared by spur wheels, the top roller being kept in posi- 

 tion by bushes placed in front. In the centre is a fixed 

 knife, held in position by screws. An inclined table is 



