UNIFICATION OF METHODS IN TESTING MATERIALS, XXXIII. 
Discussion. 
Mr. Deanz said he fully recognised the great value of the paper 
contributed by Prof. Warren, that there should be a uniform 
method of testing materials adopted was a matter of deep impor- 
tance. The paper was worthy of careful study. He was thoroughly 
in accord with Prof. Warren in the main points brought under 
notice, but it appeared to him (Mr. Deane) that one thing had 
been omitted, and that was the chemical tests of materials, of 
which no mention was made in the paper. It might be said that 
we can do without chemical tests ; but he could not agree to this. 
We wanted to be safe on all sides. We might specify certain 
tensile stresses and tensile strength, but if not subjected to 
chemical tests, we could not be certain as to the quality of the 
material we were getting—he referred specially to steel rails. 
Some steel for instance, was practically nothing but iron of a 
certain kind, and carbon, he might also mention nickel steel, and 
other descriptions which were really manganese. He supposed 
Prof. Warren would not object to make some reference to the 
question of chemical tests ; he (Mr. Deane) would like to hear his 
views in regard to the same in connection with steel. He could 
not regard a specification as complete unless provision were made 
for chemical tests. As regards the drop test and deflection—it is 
of course very interesting to know what the deflection would be 
under certain conditions, but what is more important to the rail- 
way engineer is to be certain as to what his rail will stand in 
respect of the hammering to which it will be subjected. Ina 
Specification which he had been preparing recently in conjunction 
with Mr. T. R. Firth, they had adopted the drop test without 
deflection. He recognised the fact that more information was 
needed on these subjects, as comparatively speaking, in the history 
of mechanical engineering, steel was almost a new substance. He 
should very much like to see some uniform method of testing 
adopted, and should be highly pleased if Prof. Warren’s recom- 
mendations were adopted by the Public Works Department and 
the colony at large. 
3—June 16, 1897. 
