PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2148, 14 May 1914, Page 5

PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

WORLD'S DAMS & BRIDGES. * A loctuTo entitled "A Trip Abroad" was given by Mr. F. W. Furkott in the Musoum Buildings last "evening under tho auspices of the Philosophical So-, cinty. Mr. A. Atkins presided over the meeting. :.. , ■ .Mr. Furkett said that ho had beeh called on to speak at short notice, but that ho had picked bait the most interesting nild unusual scenes,in his trip alid would speak on these. He first mentioned different dam constructions. The first that lie had seen was' the Bnrrinjnek Dam, in Australia. Work had been progressing on this dam for six years, and it was not expected to finish the construction. fyr n four Special affiSnfton' was naturally;''being devoted to the most important part or tlio darri, tho base, which was constructed on tho. day-labour, system. The.speaker "tlien detailed the method of construction. When completed, the dam would hold more water than Sydney Harbour. Tho lecturer then passed on to refer to dams which he had seen, particularly in Egypt and in Western America on the Spokane .River, and no.st touched on various' bridges which he had lieen. 'Among .the most interesting' were ono which Napoleon had lniilt when crossing the Alps, tho boat-bridges spanning the Rhine, and a britlao at tlio outlet to Lake, Lucerne. The last-mentioned hridge, which was 100 years old, was in-' teresUnpc on account of tho fact. that tho builders had sacrificed tho convenience of the users of the bridge to the ease of construction. 'Although it was so old the bridge was still jn very good condition, and this was accounted for 'by tho fact that it was (liko other bridges in Switzerland) roofed in, and tluis protected from weather. A bridge that had caused tho lecturer somo amusement was ono spanning tho Tiber. It was inscribed with a guarantee by tho builder that it would last 40 years. It had, however, now been in existence- for centuries. Owing to the lateness of the hour, the lecturer, was obliaod to draw his address to a. eloso at this stase, hut promised to continue it at a future meeting. Ho was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. ■ ■ • i Prior to tho lecture a discussion took place on a lecture which had been delivered by Professor Easterfield at a previous meeting on iron and steel furnaces. Professor Easterfield replied to the various sneakers.