POPULAR LECTURES. BY VISITING SCIENTISTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 November 1922, Page 1

POPULAR LECTURES.

BY VISITING SCIENTISTS.

The second evening of the popular lectures by the visiting members of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute was given at the Town Hall last night. The attendance was not at all commensurate with the opportunity offered to the local public for instructional addresses on interesting subjects. Mr D. .J. Evans, President of the Progress , League, who presided, took occasion to ! welcome the visitors and thanked the ; Philosophical Institute for the interest displayed in the Coast by arrang- | ittg the tours. Air A. M. AVright, president of the j Institute, replied thanking the people for the welcome extended and for the attention shown to them. Referring to tlm work of the Institute, Mr Wright mentioned that Sir Julius von ! TTaast was the first president of • the j Philosophical Institute fit) years ago. ! and laid the foundation for valuable 1 scientific work which had been going j Forward steadily ever since. Mr Wright then proceeded to deliver a I lecturette on “Microbes and Moleeules.” Microbes were described as the smallest thing in life, and molecules as the smallest thing in matter. By the use of illustrating diagrams thrown on the screen the lecturer showed various forms of microbes, rolating chiefly to diseases for the reassn that it was in regard to microbes • wiiieli "ere most dangerous to mankind ■of which most were known owing to the more extensive research work in that direction. At the same time reference was made to the process of digestion in regard to which many useful microbes performed various services in the disposal of the foods. Particulars were given also of the danger in the transmission of microbes by flies, and some slides illustrating that phase of the question brought the lesson directly home. The culture of microbes ( was also explained, and examples given of the form of the different microbes responsible for the spread of the most deadly diseases. The second lecture was given by Air 0. E. Arehey who dilated on “Animal Flight” and gave an interesting resume of flight development from pro-historic I times. The transition stages through j reptiles, animals and birds were expounded, and the remarkable adaptaj tion of power ns flight became more and more migratory. Referring to ! the late introduction of human gliding , the lecturer pointed out that man’s I very recent accomplishment made clear | how the albatross remained so long in | the air without any apparent effort to j fly. The albatross were just expert j gliders who took advantage of the ! wind resistance to sustain themselves in the air over an extended period | with very little expenditure of flying effort. The development of wing-pow- ; or from the earliest discovered relics : of flying animals formed a very intor- ! esting subject of the address, and kept the audience closely attentive • throughout. I At the close of the address Air T. AY. , Bruce moved a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturers, which was carried by ao- ! clamation and grneefullv acknowledged by AIY Wright,' The meeting then concluded.