Proceedings, &c. t for 1882. 307 



land. Here the sun will rise at a quarter to five on the Gth Decem- 

 ber, and at that time the planet will be in the middle of the sun's 

 disc, so the egres3 will be distinctly visible to us. 



Mr. Kernot then exhibited two models of iron girders — one repre- 

 senting a girder on a railway footbridge in Melbourne; the other that 

 girder as it ought, on scientific principles, to be. The latter con- 

 tained half the material, but sustained a load of 770 lb3., while the 

 former broke with 208 lbs. 



Mr. Barnes objected to the manner in which Mr. Kernot held up 

 to ridicule the work of practical men, who had in the early days of 

 the colony done the best with the material at their disposal. 



Mr. Kernot said he had studiously avoided ridicule. All he wished 

 to show was that the designers of these girders had wasted their 

 materials without gaining strength. 



Mr. Ellery thought it Mr. Kernot's duty, as professor of engi- 

 neering at the University, to call attention to the faults of defective 

 structures wherever he found them. 



12th October, 1882. 

 The President in the Chair — Present, 35 members and associates. 



Mr. R. Stephens, B.A., was duly elected a member; Mr. Wakelin 

 a country member. 



The Hon. Librarian reported that during the month 14 volumes 

 and 47 parts of scientific publications had been received. 



Dr. MacGillivray then read the third portion of his paper on " IsTew, 

 or Little Known, Polyzoa," and exhibited engravings of them. 



Mr. Behrendt read a paper entitled "Description and Estimate 

 of an Electric Railroad for Melbourne." 



Mr. Kernot remarked that electric railways had many advantages 

 for city traffic. ISTot only were the annoyances of smoke and noise 

 avoided, but by their elevation these railroads interfered less with 

 traffic than any other street railway. There was no ponderous loco- 

 motive to carry, hence a saving in the permanent way and in the 

 power used. 



Several other members concurred in the idea that such railways 

 would be of great advantage in Melbourne. 



Professor Xanson read his paper on " Methods of Election," the 

 discussion on which was postponed to a future meeting. 



16th November, 1882. 

 The President in the Chair — Present, 26 members and associates. 



Mr. Joseph Summers was elected a member, Mr. J. A. Stuart a 

 country member, and Mr. J. H. Horner an associate. 



W2 



