57 



of the element silicon was exhibited and a practical demonstration 

 of one of the methods of isolating it was given. Then followed a 

 description of the principal natural forms of silica, specimens of 

 some of these being handed round. The preparation of amorphous 

 silica was shown practically, and the remarkable properties of the 

 new "silica ware " were illustrated by simple experiments. 



The paper ended with some remarks on the enormous import- 

 ance of silica in nature and on the multiform services it and its 

 derivatives render to mankind. Mr. E. W. Barlow rendered great 

 assistance in preparing the experiments and Dr. Ord and Mr. W. T. 

 Gardner kindly lent specimens for exhibition. 



The Water ^ n February 6th, Mr. ^* Temple Gardner gave 

 e a er p a p er on ^is subject at the Society's new 



upp y o rooms at Granville Chambers. This was the first 



ournemou . sect i 0 nal meeting held under the improved con- 

 ditions, and this circumstance co-operated with the intrinsic interest 

 of the subject of the paper in securing a good attendance of members. 

 A full abstract of Mr. Gardner's excellent paper is given at page 75. 



The invitation to visit the Works of the Bourne- 

 Visit to mouth Gas and Water Company kindly given, on 



Gas and Water behalf of the company} by H< W . Woodall, Esq., 

 Works at Pooie M<LC .E., was thankfully accepted. On June 30th 

 and Wimborne. a p art y 0 f aDO ut forty members visited the works 

 at Poole, Wimborne, Longham and Alderney. The weather was 

 favourable and the visit was most instructive and enjoyable. The 

 processes of preparing, purifying, storing and distributing coal-gas 

 were seen in operation at Poole ; at Wimborne, Longham and 

 Alderney we saw the way in which the company collects the water 

 used in Bournemouth, and how that water is softened, filtered and 

 stored. The company provided an excellent lunch for the party at 

 the Wimborne works, and after this Mr. Woodall, in responding to 

 a vote of thanks, gave a brief but clear account of the working of 

 the water-softening plant. 



Throughout the whole of the visit the party was accompanied 

 by Mr. Woodall and Mr. Moon, the Assistant-Manager, and not 

 only so but a number of the other members of the staff contributed 

 greatly to the pleasure and profit of the visit by being at hand to 

 answer questions and give explanations. 



By the kind invitation of Colonel Markwick about 

 n . twenty members of the section had the opportunity 



Astronomical of seeing the planets Mars and Saturn under 



enmg. peculiarly favourable circumstances. The party 



met at Colonel Markwick's residence on September 23rd. The 

 atmospheric conditions were excellent and both planets were well 

 seen in the 8-| inch reflector with which so much good work has 

 been done. Mars was just in opposition (a most favourable one, too) 



