CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9488, 10 August 1891, Page 6

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

SCIENCE SOCIETY’S CONVERSAZIONE. The attractions of the Canterbury College Science Society’s conversazione on Saturday evening were so many and varied that they drew together a crowd which made it difficult to examine them as atteniveiy as they deserved. The members of ffjO Society and their friends, ladies, of cou rse,included,assembled insuch numbers that the half dozen rooms in the College buildings which wore used for the convereazioiis were at least comfortably filled. All present seemed to enjoy themselves, even thou<- - h careful examination of tho scientific and mechanical “ objects of interests ” was out of the question. These were so many that a description, or even a list of them is likewise out of the question. Most of them were in the College hall, which was decorated with evergreens and other adornments, disposed with much taste. One of the most popular attractions was the “Siren,” whose dismal wailings resounded through the hall, commingled with the shrill squeaking of the Chladni plate, a contrivance for showing the figures produced in sand, strewn on a plate of metal, by musical notes. The students of the Engineering school were in charge of half a dozen tables covered with working mechanical models from the school, aacl others lent by Mr T. Danke. There were many microscopes, and many exhibits illustrative of sound, light and heat. Professor Bickerton’s original apparatus for teaching scientific measurements, and illustrating tension, pendulum vibration and other physical laws, was a very popular exhibit. Of electrical apparatus there was a large and attracting display, provided by the College, and Messrs J. L. Scott and Smith. A model electric railway at work was a most popular feature of the exhibition. Captain Webster, of the Canterbury Engineers, lent their telegraphic, telephonic' and cable-testing apparatus, and various appliances pertaining to the wholesale destruction of human life in a scientific manner. Sergeant Beveridge was in charge of the exhibit, and just before the assemblage dispersed, ho exploded a couple of fuses by electricity, startling such of the audience as were not prepared for this illustration of science. On the stage and around the walls were several fine pictures, oil paintings, water-colours, engravings aud photographs, by Messrs 8. H. Moreton, E. Wheeler, T. Crook and J. Touch. In the chemical lecture theatre Professor Bickertoa made a number of familiar, but brilliant and striking, electrical expriments, and Mr E. W. Seager exhibited some admirable photographic pictures with tho magic lantern. He showed several of the most modern lantern appliances, including tho epicycioidotrope, an apparatus for drawing curved lines on the slides, producing amosbinteresting effect. In other rooms of tho building devoted to Professor Bickerton’s work were model steam, engines—at work, dark-room experiments. Pepper’s ghost—a grinning skull being the apparition, chemical experiments, working' models of air expansion and gas engines, a glass model of u ram, exuibited by Messrs Mason, Strothers and Co., and many other attractions. The apparatus for anthropometrical measurements, lent by Mr H. 0. Forbes, was one of the most attractive features of the programme. Refreshments were supplied during the evening in a room in the east wing of the buildings, and the crash around the ladies who dispensed the tea, coffee - and cakes was greater —much greater —than, in any other department of the conversazione. During the evening the guests in the College Hall were entertained with songs bv Misses A. S. Taylor and 801 l and Mr A. Merton, and instrumental selections by Miss Packer and Mr Leon Coben. Miss Bell acted as accompanist to the various items of a small, bub exceedingly well rendered programme. Shortly before eleven o’clock the large assemblage dispersed, and a very pleasant gathering was closed.