188 Proceedings, &c., for 1879. 



PKOCEEDINGS OF SECTION A. 



Physical, Astronomical, and Mechanical Science, including 

 Engineering. 



At the ordinary meeting of the Royal Society, held June 10th, 

 1879, Mr. R, L. J. Ellery proposed that Section A should be 

 again formed. 



The names of about forty members were obtained who were 

 desirous of becoming members of the Section, and now, after a 

 lapse of more than four years, the Section is again doing active 

 work. 



Five meetings have been held, the average attendance being 

 very good. 



The first meeting was held on July 3rd, 1879, when the Chair- 

 man (Mr. W. C. Kernot) and Hon. Secretary (Mr. H. S. 

 Patching) were elected. At this meeting Mr. Ellery exhibited a 

 new contrivance invented by Mr. Grubb for obtaining uniform 

 rotation with the use of the ordinary vibrating pendulum. Mr. 

 A. Sutherland read a paper on " The Application of Mathematics 

 to Political Economy." 



At the meeting held July 30th Mr. R. E. Joseph exhibited a 

 Hughes's induction balance. Mr. J. E. Edwards exhibited a new 

 and improved form of telephone. 



At the meeting held August 27th Mr. Kernot read some notes, 

 and also exhibited some of Aitkin's experiments, on chains in rapid 

 motion. 



At the meeting held on September 24th Mr. Pirani exhibited 

 the phenomenon of sound produced by electricity when a thin 

 tense iron wire formed part of an interrupting electrical circuit. 

 Messrs. M'Lean and Kernot each exhibited small models of 

 turbines of original design, from each of which very good results 

 were obtained; Mr. M 'Lean's being a vortex wheel and Mr. 

 Kernot's a Barker's mill. 



At the meeting held on October 29th Mr. Pirani read a paper 

 on " Methods of Teaching the Science of Electricity," suggesting 

 some improvements in many of the definitions. The Secretary 

 exhibited a new form of galvanometer. 



It has been suggested that' no recess shall exist with regard to 

 the meetings of the Section, as observed with ordinary meetings of 

 the Society ; and as the laws do not provide for such recess, it is 

 deemed expedient to hold meetings without interruption on the 

 last Wednesday in every month, as decided at the first meeting of 

 the Section. 



W. C. KERNOT, Chairman. 



H. S. PATCHING, Hon. Secretary. 



