PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE LECTURE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5715, 20 June 1879, Page 6

PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE LECTURE.

The second of the series of popular lectures projected by the Philosophical Institute was given last evening in the lecture theatre of the Canterbury College. Despite the very unfavourable weather, there was a good attendance, and the fact must have been most gratifying to those who had been instrumental in providing the admirable entertainment. The lecturer was Mr Nelson IL Cherrill, the honorary secretary to the Institute, and the subject selected by that gentleman was “ The Modern Magic Lantern.’ 1 On commencing, Mr Chen ill briefly noted the various stages through which the magic lantern passed ere it attained its present high standard of excellence, and he then explained how, with such lanterns as were to be used that evening, various effects were produced, such, for example, as the “ dissolving ” of pictures. He also described how, hy the construction of the lens, a concentration of the illuminating power was obtained, and he pointed out how an unusually powerful light became necessary in order to overcome the loss by the dispersion of (he rays over an immense field of view. In the previous lecture, Professor Bickerton had shown to the audience the various modes of illumination, the more powerful of these being the electric and the oxy-hydrogeo light*. The electric light being too uncertain for lantern purposes, the oiy-hydrogen light was employed, and this it would be at once noticed was of enormous power as compared with the primitive oil lamps. Bevcrting to the lenses of the lanterns, the lecturer illustrated the different effect* which were obtained by larger or smaller fields of view, and demon* strated in the most satisfactory manner that it was best to be contented with a screen picture of moderate diameter. The various classes of lantern pictures were then exhibited, commencing with such as are usually shown at magic lantern entertainments. Some of these hand-drawn pictures were decidedly good of their class, and evinced a considerable amount of artistic skill, both in drawing and colouring. The contrast, however, between them and the photographic pictures which followed was of course an extraordinary one. In exhibiting some Parisian scenes, Mr Cherrill chatted pleasantly for a few minutes about the pigeon post, instituted dnring the Franco-Prassian war, and having explained the mode of preparing the photographic despatches, and of subsequently reading and transcribing them by the aid of the magic lantern, he gave a practical illustration of the appearance upon the screen of a microscopicallyminute message. This had reference to (he refreshments which visitors would find had been provided for them, and the terminal in* timation that, on this occasion, the supply of milk would not run short, created a roar of laughter. The photographic slides exhibited were far too numerous to be mentioned in detail. Suffice it to say that not a few of them were absolute gems, and that, as the lecturer claimed, they were of a class which possessed immense value from an educational poict of view.

The nest series of slides represented some of the best efforts of the sculptor’s art, and these were succeeded by reproductions of celebrated engravings, copies for the occasion from Art Journal illustration*. Next Mr Clasrrill showed examples of what he termed “ effects of nature,” far and away the most beautiful of these being two exquisite scene* in the neighbourhood of the Niagara Falls, showing show-laden foliage. These were succeeded by a number of local pictures, some of them—such as the Avon views charming little bits, their purpose being to enable the audience to form a correct judgment as to the value of the pictures of scenes in other

lands which had been previously ahown them. Mr Cherrill now turned to the applicability of the magic lantern for converting the microscope from a comparatively selfish pleasure to a means of gratifying a large audience. Having first explained the mode of obtaining photographs of microscopic objects, the lecturer exhibited a number of specimen slides, and in connection with them he showed upon the screen the wonderful experiment of the decomposition of water by electricity. The resolving of the water into its two gases, hydrogen and oxygen, was very and the scampering effect of the huge bubble# was produetiveof no little amusement. During a few momenta oocupiedm changing tho lenses of tho lanterns, Mr CherriU exhibited the American magio lantern known a# the scioptioon, in which ordinary keweene oil supplies tho illuminating power, an ingenious arrangement causing a current of cold air to flow constantly about the oil reservoir and keep it cool. He recommended the scioptioon as being an excellent instrument for parlour entertainments, and demonstrated that it would give an exceedingly well -defined image. .Finally, the tooturer ixpliinri tlio construction of tho known ohromatropee, and referred briefly to the further application of the lanterns for showing the beauties of the pokriscope and kaleidoscope, and for throwing images of opaque objects on to the screen. With these appliance* it was purposed to make some experiments later in the evening. The lecturer expressed his gratitude to the various gentlemen who had kindly lent him slides from which to make a selection for hie lecture. _ The company then visited the various rooms of the‘laboratory, and witnessed a number of chemical and electrical experiments. It was announced that tho next lecture would be delivered by Mr demenshnw, manager of the Qm Company.