MEETINGS & ENTERTAINMENTS

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 201, 23 August 1904, Page 3

MEETINGS & ENTERTAINMENTS

CONDUCTION OF ELECTRICITY. A lecture on "Modern Views on the Conduction of Electricity" was given at the Auckland Institute luwt night by Mr K. V. Miller. The lecturer was introduced by i'rofessor Thomas. Mr Uowejl, of the Auckland Grammar School, assisted Mr Miller iv many delicate experiments. After some mention uf certain elementary facts in connection with electricity, the lecturer showed the electrolysis of sulphate of soda, by which through the action of an electric current an acid is developed at one pokand an alkali (soda) at the other. He explained the action of ions in this experiment, and stated that iona were always present, but that their movements were random till electricity was applied. The lecturer dealt with the conduction of electricity through gases aud with air as v conduct or. Air is, in a natural state, a iion-eonductoi'. but an experiment showed that if. Routgen rays were passing through air, the air became a conductor, while if a current were passed through Rontgenlsed air, its conductivity was destroyed. If the Roiitgenistd air were passed through cot-tou-wool the conductivity of the air would tilter out. The culminating point of the lecture was reached when the lecturer exposed air to the emanation from *>mc radium, when it was at ouce seen by the action of the electroscope that the air was rendered capable of electrical conduction. This concluded n very interesting lecture, and a vote of thanks was passed to Mr Miller with acclamation. REV. HARGROVKS LECTURES. The Key. Charles Hargrove delivered a lecture in the Federal clubroom last night ou "What Unitarians Believe." there being a good attendance of the general public. The reverend gentleman showed how gradually Unitarianism had grown up to its present form. He preached the duty of broadness and tolerance to those who differed from them most widely, and. what was more difficult but more necessary, tolerance to those of one's own creed who did not believe as much or as little as one'.sself. The lecture was very interesting, and Mr Hargrove's pleasant manner of address held the audience's attention very closely to the subject. The Rev. Mr Jellie presided.