Automobiles or Hoj'seless Carriages. 49 



considered, necessary. Though all sorts of motors might not 

 be an unmixed benefit to the public, yet he felt, and he thought 

 it was the feeling of the meeting also, that if these machines 

 could be used safely in other countries they could be used with 

 equal safety in this, and though they might be unsuitable for 

 crowded towns there could not be any reasonable objection to 

 their use under proper provisions in the country districts. 



Professor Everett seconded the motion. He believed he 

 was right in saying that a measure for the amendment of the 

 Acts on the lines of the resolution was at present in the way of 

 being passed in the Lords, and he hoped it would pass the 

 Commons also, as he believed these carriages had a great future 

 before them. 



The resolution was passed unanimously. 



President Hamilton, in proposing a vote of thanks to the 

 lecturer, said Mr. Brown was one of that class of Belfast men 

 who found time after the business of the day to take up some 

 branch ot science or literature — a class of men which in old 

 times gave to Belfast the name of the Athens of the North, 

 and a class which he was glad to say was still very largely 

 represented in the city. None could have helped being struck 

 by the lucid, comprehensive, and concise manner in which Mr. 

 Brown had dealt with his subject. He believed it would be 

 only a matter of time before the law would be altered so as to 

 remove these restrictions, and he felt sure the local members of 

 Pailiament when they heard of that meeting would give a 

 helping hand to the movement, so as the English manufacturers 

 might not be longer placed at a disadvantage. He trusted, too, 

 that the Lord Mayor in his years of office — for he thought they 

 did not intend to let him go after one year — would have the 

 gratification of inaugurating a system of horseless carriages in 

 the city. 



Mr. A. Hamill seconded the motion, which was passed with 

 acclamation, and briefly acknowledged by Mr. Brown, who 

 took the opportunity of expressing his acknowledgements to, 

 in addition to the gentlemen already named, Mr. T. F. 



