DR. IRVINE'S LECTURE. ~ 1

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue IV, 27 July 1869, Page 2

DR. IRVINE'S LECTURE.

A correspondent who was fortunate enough to secure a front seat at the Provincial Hall on Friday evening has kindly furnished us with the followiug resume of the lecture: — - . , ■ The interesting information which Dr. Irvine endeavoured to commuuicate to his numerous hearers in the Provincial Hall on Friday . night would probably not be followed except; by those who were comparatively near the lecturer, who began by enumerating the different scientific aspects from which the .world we live in may be viewed. Astronomy views it as one orb amidst a university of orbs. ' j Geography considers its various divisions of land and water. Geology examines its crust and the history of the changes it has undergone. Chemistry deals with the component parts of that crust. A history of the progress of knowledge on the divisibility of mutter was then gone into, and interesting . facts were mentioned showing the wonderful but not infinite divisibility it possesses. The origin of scientific enquiry was traced to the Arabians, and illustrated by our' possession of the Arabic numerals, so long in general use amoug civilised nations. The progress of chemistry, under the name of alchemy, was alluded to in the persous of Raymond Lully in Spain, and Paracelsus in Germany. The theory of the four elernenis of that time, next the progress of scientific discovery by Priestly in England, Sheeb in Sweden, and Lavois'er in France, leading to the explanation of the nature of combustion and respiration, and the introduction of a _ scientific nomenclature, Wfre all touched upon by the lecturer. The true method of investigation by experiment and induction, as laid dowu by Bacon, was contrasted with that of deduction, pursued by the ancients. Some very successful experiments wero displayed, ilustrating the variety of changes which matter undergoes; that changes of - colour were produced; and it was related how the lives of many British soldiers were saved in Cabul by the knowledge of the property of iodine to make visible a message written in rice water. Change of texture was shown by the extraordinary tenacity of paper after being dipped for a second only in sulphuric acid, when it becomes vegetable parchment; change in temperature, the expansive effect of heat; change of condition, as liquids turning to solids, and vice versa; changes in vital properties, two poisons forming a common article of food; all these were dwelt upon at some length by the, lecturer, who alluded to the popular estimate of science, and gave instances of great wealth obtained through chemical knowledge, as in the refinement of sugar under vacuum, and "the discovery of the coal tar dyes. At the conclusion of the lecture, Mr Justice Bichmond proposed a vote of thanks to the lecturer and his assistants, Mr Tingle and Mr Gibson, and took occasion to express his wish that a course of lectures on chemistry might be instituted.

Steeplechasing. — A il looker on" has furnished us with the following : — Steeplechasing being the favorite amusement of the sporting community of Nelson, a number of gentlemen mefc on Friday last at the Turf Hotel for the purpose of participating in the excitement of a Paper Hunt. The line chosen commenced at Mr. Suttdu's farm, thence over the fences to the Plough Inn, Richmond, crossing the road twice; the jumping throughput was very good considering the stiffness of the fences and the only casualty was a severe cropper met with by Mr Cooke on the road leadiug to Richmond. At the com-" . mencement Messrs. M'Rae, Richardson, and Cooke were, in the van when they were deprived 6f the lead by Mr Hope which he retained to the last fence when he was passed by Mr. Richardson on Gamester and Mr. Cooke on Taipo. This; meeting was got up simply for the encouragement of steeplechasing and it is hoped that it will be followed by others of a similar , nature. '.-; It Cwas^under^tood that any damage do ne . to the fen cesj • <&c.^- was to - Jog* ■ paid for, by those wh^^ i c'le y ex •;•. I c tters , ."pn^tlie'se \•■ coliqi\iieß^ ; in^th^f|l^d^ '■ois& Ji^eftr^Jßefqre^las^ j^n^ft^he^f^nbi f ulji |Bignatuj^^||l||iid|^si?,^i|a^

Marfcineau, and '"published by Messrs Longman.- In his* preface, Mr Martineau dwells at some 'laagt^n^ibe« v wbrking of the political iustitutidnßfoßt|i^ ; colony,:and supports the views . advanced by the Westminster Reviewer. Our system/ he says, 'Ms not only the opposite;, of -an aristocracy of birth, wealth, talent, or merit, it is not only the repudiation of hero worship in any form — eveu of that lowest form of' it, the worship of the demagogue of the hour— r-but it is a deliberate attempt to set up what the world has not yet had occasion even to coin a word for — "*"*■ kakistocracy, a Legislature composed of the meanest and worst chosen as such."