THE OTAGO INSTITUTE.

Evening Star, Issue 3972, 17 November 1875, Page 3

THE OTAGO INSTITUTE.

The Institute conversazione at the University last night is admitted on all hands to have been a thorough success and a most enjoyable entertainment, I here wai perhaps just one drawback—the at "iidance was too large to allow of general c unfort. It is impossible to estimate correctly the number who availed themselves of the President’s invitation ; but the crowded stab- of the main hall and side rooms during the early part of the evening warrants us in expressing the belief that there must have been nearly 500 persons present. On entering too main hall the attention of the visitor was auested by the display on its walls ot paintings, photographs, and architectural drawings, fre The collection of paintings had be.n tastefully arranged by Mr J. T, Thomson. Among them we noticed one in oil, representing Dunedin in 1849, painted by him, a most interesting production. It attracted a considerable amount of attention, the drawing being evidently most faithful. Among the water colors, those by Mr Gully stood pre-emi-nent - Lake Taupo, and Mount Cook from the sea, b‘ing greatly admired. Mr Haworth’s pictures also attracted notice. Mr E. Chapman sent ucveral boldly-treated subjects, one particularly of Mount Aspiring. MrM’Larenex bibbed a water color of Cake Mavora, and Mr Ritchie one of Mount Cook from the Pukaki Lake.. These, we understood, were painted by Mr Modgki s, who also exhibited a picture < f a stoirmy effect m Milford Hound, in which the gloomy amt expressive grandeur of our West Coast scenery was exceedingly well rendered. In two parts of the hall Mr A. Stevenson showed specimens of American photography, which demonstrate the advanced state of the art in that country. Several views of the Yosemite Valley, on an enlarged scale, and some photographs of individuals, were much and deservedly admired. Messrs Ross and Lawson contributed a large number of architectural drawings, which, with other collections of photographs, tec.,_made a most pleasing display. ii the main hall at different periods of the evening the large magic lantern belonging to the jLnnatic Asylum, which was exhibited by Mr Lhame, the tuperintendent of that establishment, was used by Mr A. H. Burton, who exhibited through it some ot the most striking

' hits a? accnry *c V; Trite oa R jouras?" from Dunedin to the WestCoastof this Province, and on the return overland ; also half-a-dozen or so portraits of our prominent Colonial politicians ; and by Mr J. H. Pope, to illustrate hie lecture on astronomy. Then at each end or the hall were stationed telegraphic instruments, which were worked by Mr Lubecki and his assistants (Messrs T. Muir, Day, and Corliss), and the modus operandi which was t explained by the first mentioned gentleman. All the side rooms w«to thrown open, but those which attracted .most notice were those in which Professors Shand, Coughtrey, and Black were stationed, ihe first mentioned was kept well employed during the evening in explaining the spectrum ; and Professor Coughtrey, assisted by Mr G. M. Thomson, had no end of inquiries to answer from those who looked through the numerous and powerful microscopes they had under their charge. In the laboratory rooms, Professor Black, assisted by Sir S, Solomon, made a number of very interesting experiments, the more important pf which we particularise. The resolution of water into its constituent elements by a current of electricity; Hydrogen generated, and its properties exhibited; Carbonic acid gas and oxygen gas made, and the properties of the two gases compared and contrasted with those of atmospheric air; Spontaneous combustion of hydride of phosphorous, explanatory of the phenomenon known as “will o’-the wisp;” Distillation and filtration illustrated practically ; Iron wire burning in oxygen gas perties of chlorine gas illustrated; Precipitation and coloration of liquids; Pouring liquids of different colors from the same vessel; Spontaneous combustion of phosphorus—its solubility in bisulphide of carbon; combustion of antimony and brass in chlorine; Resalution of sugar into water and charcoal; Phosphorous burning under water; Aniling colors : derivatives of aniline, obtained from destructive distillation of coal tar. A great variety of these beautiful colors, both as crystals and in solution, was shown in the laboratory ; and it is believed their application to the dyeing of the fibre- of the phormium tenax was for the first time anywhere exhibited last night by Mr Hirsch, who assisted Dr Black. The discovery of aniling colors has, within the last few years, been the means of cheapening the manufacture of coal gas, and given rise to some enormous factories in England, the continent of Europe, and America In other rooms machine models were exhibited ; and of these Messrs Kincaid and M'Queen’s exhibits of steam-engines and quartz-crushing batteries at work, and the Messrs Watt’s model steamship the Lady Ferguson, attracted considerable notice. Mention should also be made of the collection of coins exhibited by Mr P. Thomson; the Mes-rs Smith’s collection of Maori relics; Mr C. White's collection of Indian articles ; and Mr i). Ross’s models of a water-sink for household purposes.

The band of the Choral Society volunteered their services, which proved very acceptable, During the evening they played several popular selections. Watson Brothers, of High street, catered; and at 11 p.m. the proceedings weie brought to a close by the band playing “ The Wedding March,”