Fig. 3. and will therefore work with any of the single fluid excitants now so well known. A variable resistance is placed in the lamp circuit, so that if an alteration in the nature of the charging solution be made, the pressure at the lamp terminals can be varied to suit the voltage of the lamp. The lamp is lighted or extinguished by raising or lowering the central spindle by means of the handle. Fig. 4. Fig. 2. MIDLAND INSTITUTE OF MINING, CIVIL, AND MECHANICAL MEETING, HELD AT THE INSTITUTE ROOM, BARNSLEY, MAY 13TH, 1891. MR. W. E. GARFORTH, VICE-PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The following gentlemen were elected Members of the Institute, having been previously nominated : Professor W. E. Benton, Mining Engineer, Pitt Street, Sydney, N.S. Wales. The CHAIRMAN suggested that as the attendance was very small, owing to the prevailing epidemic of influenza, it would be well to adjourn the meeting, and this was agreed to. MIDLAND INSTITUTE OF MINING, CIVIL, AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS. ANNUAL MEETING, HELD AT THE INSTITUTE ROOM, BARNSLEY, AUGUST 5TH, 1891. MR. JOS. MITCHELL, PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The following gentlemen were elected Members of the Institute, having been previously nominated :— Mr. T. B. A. Clarke, Electrical Engineer, 71, Queen's Crescent, Haverstock Hill, London, S.W. Major Waterhouse, Mining Engineer, Glass Houghton Colliery, Castleford. Mr. Geo. Foster, Mechanical Engineer, 40, Dixon Street, Rotherham. Mr. Jas. Elce, Surveyor and Assistant Colliery Manager, Hoyland Silkstone Mr. W. Washington and Mr. A. M. Depledge were appointed scrutineers of the voting papers for the election of officers for the year 1891-92. The Annual Report of the Council was read as follows:- THE COUNCIL'S ANNUAL REPORT. The Council in presenting their Annual Report for the year ending June, 1891, to the members of the Institute have to state that the following papers have been read: "Presidential Address." By Mr. Joseph Mitchell. "On the Coal-fields adjoining Barnsley." By Mr. Robert Miller. "On the Parker and Weston Pump for Colliery Purposes." By Mr. George Blake Walker. The number of members on the books of the Institute at the end of the year was 3 Life Members, 18 Honorary Members, and 168 Ordinary Members. This is an increase of 15 in the number of Ordinary Members. The Council regret to report that the number of subscriptions in arrear has increased to the extent of £22 7s. over the year 1889-90. The papers read during the past year are fewer in number than during the previous year, and the Council would impress upon individual members the desirability of furthering the interests of the Institute by contributing papers upon such phenomena as may occur daily in the mine. The Council also regret the indifferent attendance of the members at the local meetings, and would impress upon them the desirability of members showing their interest in the success of the Institute by attending at every available opportunity; better discussions would take place, as not only are papers read before this Institute open for discussion, but those read before the other Federated Institutes. The Council congratulate the members upon the fact that one of their PastPresidents (Mr. T. W. Embleton) was elected President of the Federated Institution during the past year. On April 11th a very successful meeting of the Chesterfield and Midland Counties Institution and this Institute was held at Sheffield, when a most interesting discussion took place upon Mr. Maurice Deacon's paper "On Comparative Experiments with a Capell and a Schiele Fan working under similar conditions," and Mr. George Blake Walker's paper "On Coal-getting by Machinery." The Council of the Federated Institution have appointed Mr. M. Walton Brown as Secretary of that Institution and made arrangements with him for the better issue of the Transactions, which now come out in a more regular order than hitherto. The Council hope that, as the Federation scheme is now in good working order, the members will assist them in maintaining the efficiency of the Institution. It was not with a view of obliterating the local Institutes that the Federated Institution was formed, but with the object of enabling the experience gained by members of local Institutes to be more widely spread, and of promoting greater intercourse between the various coal-mining districts represented by local Institutes; to maintain this efficiency it is essentially necessary that the Council should be well supported by the attendance of the members at the meetings, the reading of papers at such meetings and discussions thereon. Referring to the accounts, which appear satisfactory to the Auditors, it will be noticed that during the past year the payment of the account owing to the late printers has been completed, and that the only liability for printing is that due to the Federated Institution. In conclusion, the Council hope that members will arrange for payment of their subscriptions, which are now due, as this Institute has to forward the calls made by the Federated Institution, which, if not received in due course by that newly formed Institution it cannot continue. The PRESIDENT moved the adoption of the Council's report. He would be glad to hear the remarks of any gentleman upon it. The arrears since the writing of the report had been reduced by £15. Mr. J. NEVIN seconded the motion. The report was adopted. ACCOUNTS. The Statement of Accounts for the past year was read as follows :— VOL. II.-1890-91. 3 H |