SCHOOL OF MINES CONVERSAZIONE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12991, 4 June 1904, Page 3

SCHOOL OF MINES CONVERSAZIONE.

The annual conversazione iu connection with the School of Mines was held in the lecture room on Thursday evening, and proved quite as enjoyable- as the gatherings of a like kind that have preceded it. On such a night it would, liavo been. pardonablo if tho many , friends of the students had absented tliomselvee from the' function, but with probably pleasant recollections of enjoyable evenings spent on previous occasions, they were not prepared to deny themselves the. pleasure.of being present, and attended-in-'such'" numbers'that the. lecture ioom was altogether insufficient to hold them all, and many had to stand at the door of the lecture room, whilo' others Visited the classrooms and 'inspected tho scientific instruments to be-found there. The attendance speaks volumes for tho'interest taken in tho school, and in tho .work being carried ore so sitcccjiftillv there.

Professor J. Park, (director of the school), who was called upon at very short notice to , ' open the. proceedings, tbunked those present for attending in such numbers in such inclement weather. It. was very encouraging to the students, who spent some, time and gave some trouble in the preparation of what he believed to bo a sumptuous entertainment for;the edification of their friends, to eeo them'present in such force. Empty benches wero sorry enough comfort at any time, while'woll-fillod benches gave an air of comfort and sociability to a function- such as the present one. ■ Ho hoped ■they would leave the .building interested and instructed by what thoy would see and hear. , ;,-'.'. • ' ' ■■

Tho programme, was -then.proceeded , with, and this contained fdngj by Mi?s L. Shand, Mr A. Courtis, Sir ,1. A. Haggitt; vooal duets by Jiliss Rule and'Jlr 6. 8. Thomson, and Messrs Gibson and Andrew; recitations by Mire I- Wlutsbn and Mr Thos. Lusk; a violin solo by Mr H. Wsdie; and brief , addresses by Dr P. Marshal! and Mr ,1. S. S. Cooper, M.A., fl.Sc. The music and recitations 'proved to bd exceptionally good,.which was fully recognised'by (he largo, audience, and tho addresses, were full of interest. The subject of Dr Marshall's address was the West Coast Sounds, and his remarks wero illustrated by means of several fino lantorn slides. Dr Marshall gave the audience the benefit-of his liersonal experience and observations obtained while on a visit to the. Sounds, and dealt with llie geological formations 'found there. ■

Mr Cooper's subject was "Radium," and he prefaced by saying a woi'd or two about the, discovery of radium by Madame Curie,' of Paris, several ■ years ago—a discovery made - after . several months of patient research. , He then went on \o deal with, some'of the effects'of radium upon living things, both plants and animal?. Even through a thickness of glass, -rubber, or clothtag it was'able; in !i few hours, to raise.'sores'that would , last for weeks. Tt was able to check and even stop tho growth of plants, as. well as animals 1 of all kinds. It had_ been used.in this connection for such diseases.as cancer, and though/ it had .been reported in tho newspapers that the use of it had licnn. abandoned in (ho Cancer Hospital s of London, several physicians iu England continued its use with good results, and tire promise of better. Its physical properties were of two. kinds— electrical and heat effects. It produced heat -spontaneously, without the aid of any other agent, Professor Rutherford, one of tho most distinguished authorities on radium • and a New Zealander.' had said that a gramme of radium would develop sufficient power to drive a motor car round the world. That was perfectly true, but it would take between, ten and ahuiidred million years to develop the- power, before tho end of which time the- radium would have disappeared. It was • rash to. prophesy what, would come of the discovery, but they might be-perfectly sure, that every scientifio discovery of any importance would be almost bound" to have a practical result sooner or later. ■ - . •

At the conclusion of 'tho programme refreshments wero'handed'round, and » very pleasant and; .'j instructive, evening was brought to la. close shortly before 10 o'clock. \ ■-•'•.