XII. S. H. BARRACLOUGH. 



tion will be experienced in many parts of Australia during 

 the next few years. An important application of large 

 gas and oil engines will yet be found in marine engine work, 

 and the question of the special problems in mechanical 

 design for this purpose I found is now being seriously taken 

 up in Germany. Both steam turbines and gas engines still 

 suffer from the great mechanical defect of not being able 

 to reverse. It is true that devices for producing reversal 

 have been suggested in each case, but there is nothing to 

 indicate that the problem has been satisfactorily solved. 

 Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the gas turbine is dis- 

 tinctly looming in the future as the goal of the thermo- 

 dynamic machine. One type at least of this machine is 

 advertised on the market, and although there are many 

 special difficulties in the way, many designers are working 

 at them, and when the type is perfected and made rever- 

 sible probably a fairly definite limit will be reached in 

 the direction of apparatus for transforming heat into 

 mechanical energy. 



EDUCATIONAL REFORM. 



One need have no hesitation in saying that the most 

 important topic, looked at in the broadest sense, to attract 

 recent public attention is that of Educational Reform. This 

 is not the time or place to discuss the general question in 

 any detail, but one or two matters emerge which merit 

 passing notice. There probably has been no period within 

 recent times when so much consideration has been given 

 to the question of education, and its proper organisation. 

 All over the world the matter has been discussed with an 

 amount of detail, and a persistency merited by its supreme 

 importance. The most striking features in this connection 

 in Australia have been the appointment of the Educational 

 Commissioners, one of whom it is gratifying to note is a 

 member of this Section, and the consequent improvement 



