WHAT IS ELECTRICITY ?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13860, 25 March 1907, Page 6

WHAT IS ELECTRICITY ?

The long evenings . aro now fast approaching, and Iho question of how to most prolilably employ the lime is worth considering. Jt ; is a trite saying thai "there, is room at the top," and in these days of severe competition .in most walks of life it is very -necessary lo use push and ncr.severanco. to got- ii share of that room. (There is perhaps no more fascinating study than that, of electricity in ils many varied forms and uses. Especially is I his so now that our city is beinjj "electrified." Kleciricit.y is gradually entering into the occupations of so many of our tradesmen that it.i is becoming more'and more important that our young men should familiarise theiufclves witli the why and the wherefore. The mechanic of the future who does not understand this science will have to bo content with a. placo in the crowd about Ilio foot of the ladder. Tho engineer is meeting with this power in every branch of his trade, and ; it behoves every apprentice to lake advantage of the moans within reach to augment his knowledge of this useful yet. mysterious product. The theories advanced for the phenomenon known to us as electric current are very interesting. One of the latest was tho subject of a Daily Times article, not long ago under tho heading " Porlent-ia." Hut the laws governing tho production, control, measurement, and use of the power arc known, and have now been reduced to ail exact scienct', and it is these laws that we require to study in order to bo able intelligently use electrical appliances. Tho local Technical Classes Association has gono to considerable expense- in order that the young men of tho city may have the advantages of an up-to-date education in applied electricity. A fine room 60ft by 40ft has been allotted to this class, and benches have been erected, with vyce, etc., for wiromen's work. A gas engine has been. insUil'ccl to give power to a demonstration dynamo that, can generate either single phase, alternating, or direct, current, The storage coll room is fitted with a battery of 34 Chloride Company's secondary colls, and from these tho motors and the experimental table are supplied. Numerous testing appliances* and measuring instruments make up tho complement, of tho room. '• Tho teacher of this class (Mil A. E. Moss), is enthusiastic in' his subject,-and has given proof of ability by gaining honours in the London technological examination?. There, seems to 1« placed within the reach of the young mechanics of this city an opportunity that it would' be folly to neglect and one that should well repay tho time spcnt_ in the study oi a science at once interesting and in the future profitable.