TEMUKA LITERARY SOCIETY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1918, 18 July 1889, Page 3

TEMUKA LITERARY SOCIETY.

V On last Monday evening, as announced in our last issue, Mr J, 'A&ken, 8.A., headmaster of the Geraldine school, delivered a lecture under the auspices of the above society in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Texnuka. There was a very good attendance, amongst whom were a great many ladies. The president, the Eev. Mr Dickson, occupied the chair, and briefly introduced the lecturer, who commenced by speaking of the different kind of candles made, showing that the essential difference lay in the wick, those of the best candles being plaited so that they opened on burning snd exposed the end to the full effect of the oxygen in the air. The home-made or inferior candles, which have usually very thick wicks, burn straight and require to be snuffed. He next showed why the light of the candle is poor, there being no air current and consequently the materials of which the candle is composed are imperfectly consumed. The essential constituents of candle material were said to be carbon and hydrogen, and the characteristics of 1 , these substances were shown by experiment. The former was a solid found in nature in various different forms, for example, in pencil lead, coal, and the precious diamond. A large picture of a candle was exhibited showing the different layers or zones in a candle flame, the inside being composed of the candle material in a gaseous state. As a proof of this a tube was inserted in the candle flame rand the gas drawn ofi and lighted at the other end of the tube. The properties of thb oxygen were next explained and exemplified, its powerful affinity for carbon being shown by the relighting of a piece of wood which had been lit and then extinguished, and the red end put into the oxygen. Its affinity for hydrogen was likewise shown by* the explosive violence with which the two gases united. The products of the combination of oxygen with , other substances were oxides, the oxide of carbon . being called carbonic acid gas, and that of hydrogen being neither more nor less than water. Proofs were adduced of the presence both of carbonic acid gas and of water in the flame of a candle, the former being recognised by its power to change lime into chalk, and the latter by the simple fact of making i a cold tumbler held over the flame damp with moisture, The properties of carbonic acid gas were explained to be colorless, tasteless, odourless, transparent, invisible, heavy, and poisonous, its weight being shown by the fact that it can be poured from one vessel into another as easily as water can be, and its ■jr poisonousness by the fact that a lighted candle is extinguished when i this gas is poured upon it. The same (carbonic acid gas and water vapour) it was explained are produced by a burning lamp or gas jet. The

lecturer referred to the well-known article on “Living Stoves,” by Dr G-eorge Wilson, of Edinburgh University, and stated that the same gases mentioned above are produced by the breathing of man and the lower animals, proving his statement by breathing through lime water and changing the lime into chalk. The subject of ventilation was then touched upon, and the proper conditions of healthful existence were exemplified by means of a burning candle. Let the candle have ever so good a supply of fresh air but no exit for the products of combustion and it would soon extinguish itself. On the other hand, even with proper exits, the candle burned very dimly when no fresh air was admitted. It was only when both matters were attended to that the candle burned healthfully and brilliantly. The same things, the lecturer stated, should be attended to in the j ventilation of rooms. An experiment was next performed, showing the peculiar property of gases te interdiffuse and from this the lecturer proceeded to argue that the opening of a window for the airing of a room need not be long continued, and need not cause a draught, the tendency of the outside air being to diffuse into the room even when no wind is blowing. Mention was made, in conclusion, of Jules Yerne’s sketch for an imaginary journey to the moon in a hollow cannon ball, his system of ventilation being the production of oxygen in whatever quantities might be required, and the absorption of carbonic acid gas by lime water or potash. This the lecturer thought might one day be recognised, if not as a system of ventilation by itself, at least as a valuable assistance in the cleansing of the air in large public buildings. The lecture was of about an hour’s duration, and was exceedingly interesting, and instructive all through. At its conclusion Mr J. Brown proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Aitken for his very able, instructive and enjoyable lecture. He was greatly pleased with it. He had read books on chemistry, but reading was nothing to seeing the experiments performed. This was his first visit to meetings of the society, and if this was a sample of their work he might say that he had no fear that the society would fail to attract people to their meetings. Mr E. E. Gray seconded the motion, and said he hoped they would hear Mr Aitken again, "What he had told them made them anxious to know more.

In conveying the vote of thanks, which was carried by acclamation, to Mr AitJien, the rev. chairman said it gave him great pleasure to listen to the very practical and useful lecture, and also to witness the experiments performed. He also intimated that Mr Adams, of Waimate, would come to deliver another lecture shortly. Mr Aitken said in reply that if they had derived as much pleasure from the lecture as he felt in delivering it, he felt satisfied. It was to him a labor of love, rendered more so by having delivered it under the auspices of a society so much deserving of encouragement, as their society. After acknowledging the votes of thanks he sat down amidst great applause. The proceedings then terminated.