ENGINEERING TRIUMPHS OF 1819.

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 434, 12 June 1850, Page 3

ENGINEERING TRIUMPHS OF 1819.

Mr. Ctjbitt's Inaugural Address as President or the Institution or Civil Engineers. — This distinguished body having elected Mr. William Cubitt as their President, <hat gentleman, according to custom, has delivered an inaugural address, wherein he takes a rapid but inteiestmg review of the chief engiueering tnutnphs of the past year, and point* out the fields of usefulness opening up to the inventive powers of man in the mechanical sciences. He alludes to the Royal Commisiion for (he promotion of the great industrial Exhibition in 1851, and invites the suggestions, counsel, and aid or the members of the institution in fulfilling the objects for which the Piesident'g name has been included in that Comnii sion. Mr. Cubitt then proceeds to bay — " Although during the past year tlieie has not been 50 great a demand lor the talents, or the energies of engineers, several remarkable woilvs have been finished, or h<ive lar advuoced towaids completion. Among thtse, the tubular budges across the river Conway, and the Menii SnaiH, are pie-emine it, for the boldness of the conception, the scientific simplicity of the design, iind the difficulty of the execution. In tracing the original idt.a of the moat advantageous disposition of o| ,i (cuain amount of mateiial, in a tubular foun ; the moie defiaite conception of a hollow beam, to permit the passage and support the weight of an engine and tiam ; the experiments tor determining the proper distribution of the material to prevent compression, or ihsiuption; the arrangements for the construction and N uilding up these gigantic masses of mrteiial ; the means of floating them to their situations, and of rising thorn to their ultimate di stination, at an eleva* tion of 102 feet above the sea (at h'gh water of spring tides) ; we must leel justly proud of possessing among us the men whose comptehensive mind could onginate this nuginficunt design, and so successfully peifoirn a poilLm of the woik as to leave no doubt of its ultimate accomplishment. Upon the merits of Mr. Robert Stephenson, Mr. W. Fairbuin, Mr. Eaton llod»kmson, Mr. Prank Forster, and Mr. Edwin Clarke, we may look with paidonable pride and paitislity; their labours speak for themselves. In the year 1847 a commission was appointed (of which I was named a member) for the purpose of inquiring into the conditions to be observed by engineers, in the application of iron, in structures opposed to violent concussions and violation; and for endeavouring to ascertain such principles and forms, and to establish such rules ts should enable the engineer and the mechanic, in thenrespective spheres, to apply the metal with confidence, and should illusUate, by theory and experiment, the acciou which would take place, under varying circum* stances, in the iron railway bridges which had been erected. The harbours ol lefuge now in progress are works of national utility. Those at Dover and in the Channel Islands, by Mr. Walker, deserve particular attention. Ihe Bieak water off Portland Island has been aih eyed by Mr. Ilendel. The haibour at Holyhead, and the new docks at Leith and at Grimsby, also by Mr. Rendel, do equal credit to his comprehensive designs and hu executive skill. In conjunction to these maratime woiks may be mentioned two lighthouses, both possessing icmarkablc feitures. The first is an iron structure, elected on the Bishop's-rock^ by Mr. Walker. Sll hollow cast iron columns, with a strong bar of wrought iron in each, sunk to the depth or five feet into the rock, forming at the base a hexagon thirty foct in diameter, and tapering upwards, snppoit, at a height of abont 100 feet, the dwelling of the three light-keepers, with stores and provisions for four months, the whole being surmounted by the lantern. The access to the dwelling is by a centre column of cast-iron, containing a spiral staircase. The difficulties oveicome in the execution of this bold design, can scarcely be appreciated without a more detailed account or it, which however, I tiusr, will be laid before you during the session. The other is a stone lighthouse, c illcd the Skerry yore, erected by Mr. Alan Stevenson, on a small desolate rock situated about eleven miles W.S.W. of the island of Tyree, and fifty nailei from the mainland of Scotland ;— a structure Jar exceeding the dimensions of the famed Eddystone and Bell-rock Lighthouses, being in height 138 feet 6 inches. The pioduction of fourstoamers, with engines by Messrs. Sewaid. Miller, Perm, and Forreste , in vessels built respectively by Messrs Mire, Miller, Thompson, and Laird, tor conveying the mails ; and an equal number of engines by Messrs Maudslay and Field, Forrester and Bury, in vessels by Messrs. Wjg» rum, >Mare, Land, and Vernon, for carrying passeugeis between liolyhead and Dublin, which have attained tho speed ol nearly eighteen miles pur hour, and accomplish the passage, on an average, in four hours. By these means, when the Batannia tubular bridge ia completed, the journey between London and Dublin may be accomplished within eleven uour». The name excellent machinery has aUo contributed mainly to the accomplishing a journey to Paris, as we ha>e already seen it pei formed, in ei#ht hours and a half ; giving a death-blow to the onerou-. system of passports, A'nong the builders of steam-vessels, Mr. Scott Russell must be particularly mentioned, for the successful investigation and application of the wave hues to the tonns of vessels, so lhat the curves of least

distuibnnce can at once be adapted to a vessel, th^ ultimate, or greatest velocity of which as been pre 1 viously detci mined ; and thus hi^h speed, and easy 1 motion thiough the water can be attained, whilst a given immersion is m-rived at with certainty. I must mention the large pontoon, recently built by Messrs. E. B. Wilson and Co., of Leeds, from the des'gn and under the direction of Mr. John Fowler. This immense iron vessel, which is 400 feet long, 50 wide, and 8 deep, with a deck arra of 20,000 square feet, serves as a floating building stage for fast passage steamers, rendering the railway trains independent of the nde on the muddy shores ol the Ilurnber. A. nnmber of fine steatneih had aho been constructed for the Government, for privnte companies, and for foieign. states, in which the beautiful engines of MauiUlay and Field, Miller, Seaward, Pain, Napier, Ilennie, and others, have fully maintained their European reputition. There are now neaily 5500 lines of railway completed in Great Biitain, at a cost of about 220 millions sterling, which immense sum, derived from private sources, has been expended within the realm, encouraging in an extraordinary decree productive industry of all kinds, and induriug a revolution in ail the mercantile transactions and social relations." The address closes by inviting the particular attention of the association to the sanitary question — to tha drainage and seweruge— -the paving, lighting, and cleansing of cities and towns — the more copious and less expentive supplies of water aid gas, and in conjunction with the architects the improvement of the dwellings of the labouring" classes ; the establishment of baths and wash-houses ; und the introduction oi abbatoirs.

The Quckn.—Lord Moruelh, in one ot his addresses nn the elfctors of the West* Riding in Yoikshins otered the following beautiful passage :—-" Reference, las been frequently made to the reigns of our former Sovereigns, and indeed eveiy Englishman must fondly look back to the wisdom of Elizabeth and the victories of Anne. Bui in shaping the desired caiver of their fair and young succe^or, we do not wish ihat her name should rise above the wrecks of the armada; vte do not sepk to emblazon her thrsne with the trophies of such fields as Blenheim, or the yet more tran&cen» dant Waterloo. Let her have gloties, but such as are not drained from the tieasuiy or di-timed with the blood of her people. Let hers be the glories of peace, of in* dustry, of commerce, and of yenius ; of justice rnado more accessible ; of education more universal; of virtue more honoured ; of religion more beloved ; of holdiug forth the earliest gospel light to the un~ awakened nations ; the gloiiys that arise from gratitude for benefits conferred j ami the blessings 0} a loyal and chivalrous, because a contented and admiring people."

Destruction or Buchanan House, the Srat of the Duke of Montrose,— Ghsgow, Tuesday evening, January 22. — We 1 egret to leain that laM; night Buchanan-house, on the shores of Loch Lomond, the Scottish seat of the Duke of Montrose, was totally destroyed by fire. How the fire originated we have not yet learned, but there is no reason to consider it otherwise than accidental. Soon after the fl imes veie discovered, they obtained a complete mastery. The house, with the greatei p<ut of its furniture and " plenishing," has been destroyed. The ducal family was absent at the time. The house was spacious and comfortable, and most delightfully situated in a fine lawn dotted with 'old timber ; but it has none of the higli graces of architecture to recommend it. The land and castles upon it have been long in the possession of the Moi.trose family, and the mansion formed their only seat in Scotland. The loss is partly coveted by insurance ; but it is feared that many relics and old family papers, which money cannot replace, have perished, such as the records connected with the glonou, actions of the " Great Marquis of Montrose."

Sauries ov Officials in California. —The Assembly Bill concerning the salaries of officers, was taken up, amended, read a third time, and passed. This Bill, has passed by the Senate, fixes the salary of Secretary of State at <S*8,000; Treasurer, #9,000 ; Attorney General, JJ'5,OOO ; Surveyor General, >S'B,ouo; Assistant Justices, -8*10,000; each District Judge of the I stand 2nd Districts, (two southernmost districts) at --STj.OOO ; all the rest at .#8,030 ; Governor's Private Secretary, £'3,000 ; Cleik of the Supreme Court, 4?3,000. The Assembly Bill, as amended above, fixes the salaries as follows, viz.: — Governor, 45*10,000; Secretary of State, 457,000; Comptroller, -S'B,ooo ; Treasurer, S"8,000 ; Attorney - General, ■87,000; Surveyor-General, <57,0J0; Associate Justices, each £'10 000 ; each District Attorney, 4?2,00fl ; State Tnnslator, -B'B,' 00; Governor's Private Secretary, -81,009 ; Clerk of the Supreme Court, (Fea&). Senate adjourned.

Thieves upon their Honour. — There had been many robberies in Fileshirc : every house in the neighbourhood had been visited except Balcarres. The robbers were at la"t captured and bi ought before the coun^ ty court. "Why did you never come to me?" askt<l Lord Balcarres. " My lord," they leplicd, "we often did ; every where else we found closed doors, but at B.ilcanes they stood always opeu and where such is the rase it is a rule among us not to enter — Lord Lindsau's Lives of the. Lindsays.

Serve Him Right.—A spruce looking girl of nineteen, tripping along at a moderate puce, with a small bundle under her arm, was accos'cd by a gentleman, who asked permission to accompany her. " Certainly," said she ; " just hold my bundle while I tie my storkiDg," and presented it to him as she spoke, instantly ran off at full speed. The gentleman felt a slight movement in the bundle, and in great trepidation trotted after her repeatedly bawling out, "Ilwe, you woman, come back and take your bab/." Soon a crowd gathered to team the nature of his distress—"A woman gave me her baby to hold, and ihen ran off," piteously exe'aimed the man of burden, " Take it to the alms-house," shouted some half dozi'n voicep. voices. " Let us see it first," cried one more fca^acious than the rest; «md as a large couige towel was unfolded, out jumped a (u'l grown cat, wbo scampered off amid the vociferous shouts and luugiiter of all bine one, who looked awfully sad. It seems that a lady, dehiring to rid her house of one ot tliese animals, whose petty larcenies, in the kitchen weie a source of great annoyance, had commissioned the seivant girl to take it out of the neighbouihood and drop it.—New York Sun.

Scotch Catechism.—Pedagogue—-Wha was GoliaL? Boy—The muckle giant wham David slew with a sling and a stane. Ped.—Wha w.»s David ? Boy — the son of Jesse. Ped .—That's a br<i nmn, and noo—svha was Jesse ? Boy-»-'lhe flower of Dumblane.

Boisterous Preaching.— A. celebiated divine who was lemarkaMein the first period ot his mmistiy tor a loud and boisierous mode of preaching, suddenly chauged his whole manner in tne pulpit, and adopted a mild and dispassionate mode ot delivery. One of his brethren observing it, inquired of him what had induced him to make the change ♦ He wai answered ; "When I was young I thought it was the thunder that killed the people ; but when I grew wiser I discovered that it whs the lightning, so 1 determined to thunder less and lighten mcfe m iiiiukn