550 



SCIENTIFIC NEAVS. 



Qune 8, iS 



tion, a 

 added. 



small quantity of a solution of hydrocyanic gas is 



Alarm Gun. — An alarm for scaring burglars, etc., has 

 been patented by Mr. W. Burgess. The gun barrels 

 have a slot, and are hollowed out to receive the cart- 

 ridge ; these are placed in a box, and the breech fixed in 

 the slot, together with a damp-proof shield, a hole being 

 made in the breech to keep the pin of the cartridge in 

 position. When the guns are used on a block the water- 

 proof shield is required, but when placed in a box they 

 can be dispensed with. A knuckle-joint is introduced at 

 the top of each barrel, and a sliding weight placed there- 

 on. The knuckle-joints are set in motion by a spoked 

 roller, which is rotated by clockwork. Above this roller 

 is fixed the clockwork, on the spindle of which is a 

 pulley attached by a chain to the spoked roller. The 

 clockwork drives this pulley, and thus winds up the 

 cord, causing the spoked roller to elevate the knuckle- 

 joint in an upright position. This releases the weight, 

 which descends upon the pin of the cartridge in the 

 barrel and explodes the charge. 



Locomotive. — Messrs. W. P. O'Neill and F. O'Neill, 

 Ireland, have patented a pneumatic tram-car locomotive. 

 This locomotive can be easily fitted to any existing tram, 

 and consists of a petroleum engine which actuates the 

 air-compressing pump, the compressed air passing to a 

 receiver and thence to a double-acting cylinder, which, by 

 a connecting rod, transmits motion to a crank on one of 

 the car axles. A vapour compressor is provided in con- 

 nection with the compressor, having a moving endless 

 belt, which absorbs water, whereby the air entering the 

 compressor is moistened, thus greatly reducing loss of 

 power in the compressor. Between the receiver and 

 cylinder is a reducing valve, capable of adjustment from 

 tihe engine platform, for allowing the air under pressure 

 to enter the cylinder at a desired rate, the air thus ad- 

 justing itself and working expansively in the cylinder 

 when going down an incline, at a higher pressure on a 

 level, and a still higher pressure up an incline or start- 

 ing. A centrifugal pump is also provided, as well as a 

 water supply for cooling the cylinder of the petroleum 

 engine. 



Ice. — Mr. F. A. Smith has patented an apparatus for 

 making ice. The apparatus comprises an outer and 

 inner casing provided with non-conducting material be- 

 tween them. The interior of apparatus is divided into 

 upper and lower compartments by a partition. The 

 lower compartment is provided with shelves and a door, 

 and is used as a refrigerating chamber, while the upper 

 one is again divided to form the freezing and overflow 

 chambers. A fresh-water tank is placed at the bottom of 

 the overflow chamber, and is provided with a supply 

 pipe connected to the main. A pipe extends from the 

 bottom of the tank to near the top of the overflow 

 chamber, and then down between the freezing and over- 

 flow chambers, and enters the freezing chamber at the 

 bottom. This pipe is provided with a valve to regulate 

 the supply of water to the freezing chamber. This valve 

 is operated from outside by a hand-wheel. The freezing 

 chamber is provided with cans for holding the water to 

 be converted into ice. These cans are provided with 

 flanges by which they are supported in a float, kept in 

 position in the freezing chamber by a suitable guide rod 

 fixed to the bottom of the chamber. 



TECHNICAL EDUCATION. 



Munificent Gifts to Manchester. — The Manchester 

 City Council will be asked at its meeting this week to- 

 sanction and materially support a scheme for the formation 

 of a Whitworth Institute of Art and Industry on an extensive 

 scale, and the provision of a woodland park and pleasure 

 gardens. The scheme is formulated by the legatees of the 

 late Sir Joseph Whitworth, who left a large sum of money to 

 be expended by them for the benefit of the citizens and in 

 sympathy with his known wishes. The proposals are to 

 present to the city the private property known as Potter's- 

 park, the erection and equipment of a museum of art and 

 industry in the park, an enlargement of the present School 

 of Art, the building of a central technical school to work in 

 close relationship with Owen's College, and the establish* 

 ment of manual training schools, which may form a link 

 between the public elementary schools and the central 

 technical school. The whole scheme (inclusive of the pre- 

 sent buildings of the School of Art and Technical School), 

 valued at ^50,000, represents a capital outlay of close upon 

 ^300,000. Towards this the Whitworth legatees offer in 

 land, buildings, and money, .^135,000, to be supplemented by 

 other donations in case the broad scheme suggested by them 

 is carried out. The committee and guarantors of the Man- 

 chester Jubilee Exhibition have provisionally agreed to hand. 

 over for the purpose of the institute of art and industry 

 their. surplus, which is estimated at ;/^4o,ooo, and the govern- 

 ing bodies of the Technical School and the School of Art 

 have expressed their willingness, on certain conditions, to 

 hand over their property. The City Council will be advised 

 by a special committee of their body to provide for the 

 maintenance of the public park, and to obtain power to assist 

 from the rates in the support of the institute. The annual, 

 expenditure on maintenance, etc., is estimated at ^10,000. 

 The museum of art and industry is to comprise five sections, 

 as follows : — (l) Fine art, painting, sculpture, etc. ; (2), 

 industrial art, textiles, wood and metal work, pottery, etc., 

 books of design, and patterns ; (3) mechanical, chemical,, 

 and textile industries and models ; (4) commercial raw pro- 

 ducts, samples and patterns from the colonies and foreign- 

 countries, sent home by our Consuls to show the industries- 

 and requirements of distant markets, with suitable exposi- 

 tions, lectures, etc. ; (5) lecture hall and illustrative libraries,, 

 lectures, etc. 



ANNOUNCEMENTS. 



Dundee Naturalists' Society. — From the annual report 

 of this Society it appears that the ordinary meetings ol the 

 Society, as well as those ot the physical section, have been 

 very successful. Nine papers had been read at the ordinary 

 meetings of the Society, and a good record of work was shown, 

 in the physical section, fourteen papers having been read, many 

 of which embodied the result of original research. The 

 Society's library was stated to be growing in extent and use- 

 fulness. Some additions had also been made to the museum, 

 notably a valuable collection of micro-lepidoptera. The 

 Society's large collection of birds' eggs had been carefully 

 arranged and classified by Mr. R. N. Kerr. Steps had also 

 been taken to remedy the sad condition in which the collec- 

 tion of birds had fallen through dust, mites, and moths. The 

 following appointments have been made for the year 

 1888-S9 ; — President, Mr. James Durham; 'Vice-Presidents,, 

 Professor D'.Arcy 'VV. Thompson and J. Martin White ;. 

 Honorary Secretaries, Mr. F. W. Young and Mr. Alexander 

 P. Stevenson ; Honorary Treasurer, Mr. Alexander Simpson ; 

 members of the Council, Professors Carnelley and Steggall,, 

 Messrs. John Nelson, R. N. Kerr, A. C. Lamb, and Allan 

 Matthewson. 



Plymouth Biological Laboratory". — This Laboratory 

 will be opened on Saturday, June 30th. The Fishmongers' 

 Company will entertain the Council and various friends and 

 members of the Association at lunch on that day, and a large 

 gathering is expected of those who are interested in this 

 important undertaking. Unfortunately the state of Prof. 

 Huxley's health will prevent the President of the Association. 



