SCIENCE CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2257, 17 September 1914, Page 8

SCIENCE CONGRESS

L TWO,LECTURES DISASTERS IN COAL MINES In . connection with tihe Science Congress'; two addresses were delivered at the Dominion Museum last night. Dr. iW.M. Thornton, of Armstrong College, Jveivcastlo-on-Tyno, spoke on "Limiting Conditions for the Use of Electricity in Coal ■Mines." Professor Easterfield presided; Dn Thornton explained at the outset 1 ihat he Lad been called to investigate on " eleotrical lines the cause of great colliery,,disasters in England during the past.few years. In 1909 his services had been retained in connection with the great Durham _ disaster, when 230 lives were lost. This had been attributed to an indirect ignition of coal dust iby an electrical flash. At the end of 3 911' there was the Hulton colliery disin which close on 400 lives were lost. _ This Lad been set down to direct ignition of coal gas. Later, there was the South Wales colliery disaster, due to the ignition of gas from signalling V sparks. All of these disasters, Dr. Thornton stated, he had investigated. . .There were two great causes of disasters in coal mines: shock and igni- : tion. ; - He went on to demonstrate the possible modes of ignition by gas. Incidentally he remarked on the Huntly mine disaster.' Going on to elaborate . the two main causes of colliery disasters, he stressed 1 the advantage of the Use of alternating currents in coal mines.. .. u ... Dr. Thornton' was'accorded a vote of • the conclusionof his lecture. ■ Astro-Physics. ' < ■ •r. Earlier in the evening ■ Professor J, ■ iW. Nicholson, of the London University, lectured on "The Spectra of Astrophysics;" Professor 'f. H. Laby .'presided. ' In tli© courso of his lecture, Professor (Nicholson referred interestingly to the results'of the latest Research at "Home in connection with his'subject. Basing his remarks upon,the result of spectra analysis, he enlarged on the properties and construction of the atoms in -the heavenly' bodies. He remarked .that ■thore were apparently several new elements exisitng m the stars, in addition to terrestrial elements. Professor Nicholson' ■remarked that the world may ;,have ~ evolyed from some early nebulae'. ', 'In concluding, he said lie had indicated ■ the kind of work they were doing at Home, and that it might be the .privilege :of Now Z°alaud to,help in'this direction in the future. . Professor Nicholson 1 was questioned ; at tho'conclusion of his address by those present, and subsequently accorded a yoto of thanks for his lecture.