ENGINEERS’ CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 22891, 24 February 1938, Page 9

ENGINEERS’ CONFERENCE

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS The annual conference of the Kew Zealand institution of Engineers was continued in the University of Otago buildings yesterday, the president (Mr J. M‘G. Wilkie) presiding over another full meeting. The attendance figures at this year’s conference are the third highest recorded. The conference held last year in Wellington had the highest attendance, 197 being present. At the Auckland conference in 1927, 162 answered the roll, and the number this year is 148. The fourth most successful fixture was that held in Wellington in 1928, when 144 names were recorded. Yesterday’s business comprised the reading of papers, followed by discussions, and m the evening a conversazione was held in the Savoy rooms. The first paper of the day was titled ‘ Recent Development in Designed Workable Concrete,’ by Mr F. H. Collins, 8.E., A.M. Inst. C.E., of Wellington. It was illustrated by slides and diagrams and provoked a great deal of discussion, in which it was mentioned that in keeping pace with the advancemint in concrete a corresponding improvement in building design would be noticed. Mr E. E. Read, A.M.1.E.E., of Dunedin, read a paper on ‘ Bus Body Design.’ Motor manufacturers long ago realised that if they could produce vehicles which could be operated more cheaply than tramcars they could gain a new and large market in the passenger transport industry, he said. Consequently all the possibilities of fuel consumption were being explored. The body builders’ contribution lay in the application of aerodynamic principles to the shape of the body, most generally known as streamlining, and Mr Read discussed fully the scientific principles followed in the building of modern coaches. The third paper of the day was delivered by Mr P. J. Alley, 8.E., A.M. Inst. C.E., of Invercargill, whose subject was ‘ Soil Mechanics of Southland Road Making Materials.’ Discussion on it had not been long in progress when the day’s business was adjourned. Both of the latter papers were also illustrated by diagrams, and those who presented them were congratulated on the quality of their material. The conference will be continued today. Further papers will be read and discussed this morning, and this afternoon the visitors will be taken on a tour of inspection .