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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9039, 27 April 1888, Page 5

A very interesting and instructive lecture was delivered in the Temperance Hall last night, by Mr. Walter I. Robinson, upon applied mechanics in connection with the technical classes at the Training College. There was a fair attendance of working men and builders, who listened with great attention to the discourse. Mr. J. H. Upton presided, and introduced the lecture by a few remarks upon the importance of technical education. The night's subject was " Beams and Girders," and was a continuation of the work of the last lecture. In the first part, attention was directed to the various methods of support by struts and ties, with the corresponding stress diagrams. With the use of the models and apparatus, a derrick crane was then built up, and the varied strains shown on the tie-rods by diagrams and tested by weigh The application of trussing to stiffen beams supported at both ends was shown, as well as cross-bracing in tho case of long girders. The principle of the lattice girder was then explained by diagrams and experiments, also the varying strains on the flanges of plate girders, a practical example of the latter being given by a rolled joist supporting brickwork over a doorway. The apparatus employed for these experiments was constructed on a large scale, and specially designed for practical lectures of this class, and was supplemented by the use of large diagrams. At the conclusion of the lecture a vote of thanks was heartily accorded to Mr. Robinson, and a similar compliment to the chairman terminated the meeting. Our Kaitaia correspondent writes: —A small cottage belonging to Mr. R. Phillips, Kaitaia, was unfortunately burned down on Saturday morning. April J4, about ten o'clock, while Mr. Phillips was attending Mr. Hayward Matthews' funeral. Some embers had been left on the hearth, but everything appeared safe when the house was left. Much sympathy is felt for Mr. Phillips.