Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

13 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

SWANSEA. I"

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

SWANSEA. SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.—On Wednesday, loIay 31, the monthly conference of teachers was held. The subject of the evening was, How may a Sunday-school class be most efficiently conducted." Mr. llall (master of Mr. Vivian's school) read an essay on the question of a very practical nature, after which, the discussion was well sustained by Messrs. T. Dodd, W. Jones, W. Howell (mi- nisters). J. F. Spencer, Jones, Rayner. and S. K. Bland. WYct.IFFE DAY AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS.—On Tuesday last, Dr. Wiglesworth delivered the second lecture in aid of the funds of the above schools, at the theatre of the Hoyal Institution, kindly lent by the council for the series. The subject advertised for the evening was, The Chemistry of Spring." The respected lecturer commenced by referring to the beauties of nature, more especially at this particularly interesting period of the year. He stated it was not his intention to enter into the anatomy of vege- tation, flowers, &c., but rather into the questions of their food, manner of growth, influences of light and shade, principle of germination, &c.iii fact what might be terrr.ed the "Chemistry of Spring." With respect to the food of vegetables from the smallest flower to the mightiest oak, he considered it to be exclu- sively and entirely air. It was thought for a considerable period that the earth was its food, but experiments in chemistry have demonstrated otherwise. A celebrated chemist took 200 lbs. weight of earth, having been previously dried in an own in which lie planted a willow of 5 lbs. weight, and allowed it to remain ex- posed to the ir and sun for five years. That no dust might be gathered to it he had a plate of metal with small apertures en- tirely covering it. At the termination of the five years the willow was remove d, which weighed upwards of 150 lbs. The earth was also dried, and weighed, and was found to have lost only about 2 oz. of its original bulk. This circumstance led to further in- quiries, and each fact elicited, proves the air to be the food of vegetation. The elements of this food consist in the union of one part of carbon, and two of oxygen, forming carbonic acid. The manner in which the presence of carbonic acid is tested, is by throwing into the liquor a small portion of lime water; the acid then escapes in the form of gas. This carbonic acid is obtained from the decay of vegetables and animals, from combustion and respiration of the I tings. The properties of carbonic acid are, that it destroys life, and extinguishes flame. An animal or a candle put into a vessel c •ntaii-.i ig this would instantly be destroyed and put out. It may be asked how this becomes part of the solid body. It is by digestion, and it is digested by first being decom- posed. If a sprig of mint or myrtle were placed in a bottle and allowed to remain in the sun for a day or two, the carbonic acid would all be absorbed as nourishment, and the candle which in the former case would go out, would in the latter remain burning, the sprig having absorbed the noxious influence of the carbon. Light is the great instrument of consummating the growth of vegetable nature. For germination the shade is requisite for perfection—the sun is necessary. This is proved by the blanched appearance of potatoes kept in cellars—by griiss which may have had a stone covering it for some time, foliage immediately under trees, and the appearance of the stumps of graas after a late cutting. How do trees absorb and pass water. As the life of animals depends upon the circulation of the sap, so does the life and growth of plants depend upon the circulation of the sap. The woody part of the tree is composed of small longitudinal tibres, extending in spiral lines, closely united together from the roots to the summit of the tree; amongst these fibres some are so extremely small and fine, that a single one scarcely as large as a hair, contains some 1,000 The tree has 10,0;)0 of these tubes. There is an innumerable multitude of little tubes in which the sap circulates, extending through the whole body of the tree to the remotest branches, some conveying it from the root to the summit, and others returning it back, again during the heat of the day. These tubes pass through the leaves, which are also respiratory organs. Each leaf has certain vessels, which being closely compressed at the extremity of the stalk, extend themselves like ribs on the in- terior part of the leaf, and ramify in various directions, and every leaf haa some thousands of pores. At the conclusion he dwelt on the subject of education, aDd entreated the assembly to use their means and influence to secure triumphant success to the Wycliffe tchools. Votes of thanks were returned, and the meeting separated 1 ighly delighted with the eloquent and instructive lecture. fits Loan CUA.XCSLI.OR h; 8 appointed John Rolley Tripp, of £ wauscra, in the county of C amorgan, Gent., to bo a Master 1 x.raordina:j in the High Court oi Chwicery. THE completion of the Swansea Docks-now, we believe, in course of as rapid construction as the nature of suck works will admit—looked forward to by our brethren in South Australia with considerable interest and anxiety, as opening a channel for the direct consignment of their ores to the immediate neigh- bourhood of the smelting depots, instead of shipping them to London, from whence they have to be transferred in smaller vessels to Swansea. The great distance of South Australia, and the consequent necessity of transmitting ores to England, renders it of the utmost importance that the}' should at Once proceed to their destination and, on the completion of these docks, which will be capable of receiving vessels of the largest tonnage, it is probable that so great an increase will take place in the Swansea trade, both import and export, as to secure to Australian vessels a sufficiency of back freight, without com- pelling the necessity of going either to London or Liverpool for the purpose. The South Wales Railway will open up a com- plete communication between Swansea and the great coal and iron districts of Wales, and the manufacturing localities of the kingdom—the produce of which for exportation will thus find a conveircnt outlet, with every accommodation which modern improvements can secure for speedy and safe shipment. This direct consignment to Swansea will effect a great saving in time. often to the extent of a month or more, in the voyage out and home—a circumstance of very considerable importance to the parties interested, both here and in our Australasian colo- nies. In making these few observations, we do not lose sight of the probability that, at a future period, the copper ore of South Australia may be smelted on the spot; but until such be the case, and British capital can be obtained in sufficient abundance to erect works on a large scale, either for an exten- sive manufacture of charcoal, or the working of coal seams, should such be discovered in connexion with blast-furnaces, it is a question of the greatest importance to the proprietors of mines as to the choice of an English port, from whence the most direct and rapid communication between the two countries can be effected.— Mining Journal. A" adjourned meeting of the inhabitants of this town was held on Monday evening last, to receive the report of the sub- committee appointed at the last meeting to wait on the Town Council and Paving Commissioners respecting watering the streets. The Mayor occupied the chair. Mr. G. T. Stroud read the report of the proceedings of the committee, from which we learn that the Town Council could not legally assist the inhabitants, and that the Paving Commissioners had no funds. However, the Town Council had offered the use of their cart and pumps, and the assistance of their surveyor. The Mayor had handsomely subscribed LIO, and T. E. Thomas, Esq., jEl; while other gentlemen were waiting to see what the tradesmen themselves would subscribe before they contributed their share. Mr. Stroud., in connexion with other gentlemen, had waited on the inhabitants, who had come forward and subscribed £ 50; altogether they required E70, and of this £61 had been either received or promised. Mr. Smith, of the water-works, had also kindly promised the use of one of his carts. Resolutions were moved and seconded, to the effect that the report be received and adopted, and appointing a committee to carry the same into effect. After a vote of thanks to the Mayor for his kindness in presiding at the two meetings, and especially for his kindness in assisting them by his donation of EIO, the meeting separated. To THE EDITOR OF THE PRINCIPALITY.—My attention has this week been directed to a letter in the PRIXCH'.VI.ITV respecting the Mutual Improvement Society," to which I referred in your columns of the fifth u and from which I learn that in my letter two errors were inadvertently committed, viz:- recognizing Mr. Gover as the immediate instrument of its esta- blishment, and considering the society as being connected with the Sunday School Union. My reasons for coming to the fore- going conclusions were founded oil the fact that this society is Z, no new thing, but a second institute based on more liberal Z, principles than the first, and established subsequent to Mr. Gover's visit. A Mutual Improvement Society and Discussion Class had been in existence, but from several causes it was given up, and this a very short time previous to Mr. Gover's visit to this town. During his address to the superintendents and teachers of our Sunday schools, he especially urged upon them the desirableness of establishing in connexion with each school something of the kind; call it by any name you please. Soon afterwards, this was talked of, and ultimately established in connexion as I thought with the teachers who were regarded as belonging to the Sunday School Union, but admitting par- ties resident in the town, who were not teachers in our Sabbath schools. I should not have taken any further notice of the affair, but that the impression has gone forth that I studiously avoided giving the credit to the originating parties. The affair is so exceedingly simple, and could have been explained in a moment had I been asked for an explanation, and which I should have done with much pleasure. As it is your inserting this will perhaps more fully do so than any conversation I may now have with either the secretary or any individual member. y on CoiuttsroNDENT.—Swansea, June 5, 18-io.

NEATH.

BRIDGEND-

ABEllA YOX.

YSTRADGYjNLAIS.

ABERGAVENNY.

PONTYPOOL.

CLYDACH.

CARMARTHEN. !

LLAN VILO.

HAVERFORDWEST.

ICARDIGAN.

Ml };TiiV!i.