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August 7, 1885.J THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. 511 church. The party was then driven to the Hawkstone Hotel, and, after a cold collation, entered tho park, a domain of singular beauty—hill and dale, wood and water, all contributing in turn to set it off. Plates were exposed on a white marble statue erected by the tenantry and friends to the memory of Viscount Hill (1800 to 1875). The party visited the various sights, including the “ Lion’s Den ” and the deep Roman well; and then, entering a deep ravine, found themselves in a long subter ranean passage, lighted only by a few wax matches, suddenly emerging into the hermit’s cave, the interior of which is lined with beautiful shells, and lighted with coloured windows. This had a plate exposed on it. After tea the party re-entered the waggonette for the return journey; but some time before the entrance to the Park was reached, a halt was cried, and a few more plates were exposed on the “Citadel,” the residence of the Rev. John Hill. The eighth excursion of the Society was under the leadership of Mr. Henry Champ, the ramble being to Gawsworth, near Macclesfield, a village with picturesque attractions. The weather was unpromising, and proved wet. Nevertheless some thirty to forty plates were exposed, some under considerable difficulty; for when to the attention demanded by focussing, light, screws, shutters, stops, and exposures, is added the skill to hold up an umbrella in wind and rain to protect the polished mahogany and bright brass fittings, it is pretty certain that if pictures are secured, credit is due to the zeal with which this enjoyable and instructive pursuit is taken up. Gawsworth so abounds in picturesque combinations—old hall, rectory, church, water (reflecting the church, and carrying on its bosom patches of lilies), abundance of foliage, and cottages—that a Saturday afternoon is all too short. The first exposure was upon an old cross by the roadside, before reaching Gawsworth. This was taken in tho rain. The members were fortunate in being kindly permitted to enter the grounds and take several views of the Hall, the residence of Lord Petersham ; the old three-storied window at the back being pointed outas unique in the black and white style of architecture. Views of the church were afterwards secured, the members finishing up their efforts amid a downpour of rain, the enthusiastic secretary being fairly pelted away by it in “taking his last shot.” Although the plates were exposed under such adverse circum stances, the resulting negatives have proved in many instances good ones. North STAPFORDSHIIRE Amateur Photographic Association. Tur ordinary monthly meeting was held on Wedesday, July 29th, Mr. F. J. Embry (Vice-President) in the chair. Some of the members showed prints from negatives taken on the occasion of the last excursion to Tutbury, &c. The Chairman expressed regret that unpropitious weather, on the day appointed for meeting their Derby friends, had deterred so many members from taking advantage of the opportunity offered, and hoped that on a future and more auspicious occasion the North Staffordshire Amateur Photographic Association might have, the pleasure of assembling in greater force, and meeting their courteous neighbours. The Hon. Secretary produced a photograph of a group of members taken at Tutbury, and kindly sent by Mr. Bourdin, of the Derby Society. It was resolved that excursions be made to Dovedale, on Wed nesday, August 5th; to Moreton Old Hall and Windlop, on Saturday, August lath ; to Trentham Park and Gardens, on Saturday, August 22nd. It was also resolved that an exhibi tion of members’ work be held in the large Mechanics’ Hall in November next, and that amateurs, members of the neighbour ing societies of Liverpool, Manchester, Derby, Nottingham, and Barton, be invited to send contributions thereto. Some financial matters having been disposed of, the meeting Manchester Photocraphic Society. Ox Saturday, August 1st, the seventh out-door meeting was held at Haddon II ill, in Derbyshire ; and notwithstanding the event of Bank Holiday falling on the following Monday, there was a considerable muster. The weather on the occasion was fortunately all that the most fastidious photographer could wish for. Arrangements having been m ide with the custodian of the place, a master key of the various doors about the building was obtained, and cameras were got to work without delay in al directions, and at every available point of advantage. Plates were exposed on the terrace steps, the terrace front, the Eagle Tower, the courtyard, ball room, chapel, and other in teriors ; whilst some splendid general views from a distance, and from two or three good points of view, were also obtained, and a very large number of pictures were obtained which could only by accident fail to turn out successfully. After tea, there being still an hour to spare, a group was taken on a 12 by 10 plate by Mr. Hutchinson, with a picturesque cottage in the background, including also the famous box trees, fantastically clipped into the form of the boar’s head and pea cock, which forms the crest of the Duke of Rutland. A pleasant return drive in the cool of the evening to Bakewell Station finished up the proceedings. The next out-door meeting will be held at Worsley, under the leadership of Mr. William Broughton. On Wednesday, the 19 th of August, it has been proposed to have a full day excursion, particulars of which will be duly notified. Uulk in the Studio. A Rotating Top for the Tripod.—We have seen an ingenious a moving 1871. 1871. 122 1872. 93 1880. 17!) money was abandoned. The between 1860 and 1881 :— 1867. 109 1877. 105 1879. 138 1870. 118 1873. 126 1862. 142 5 1876. 96 1873. 96 puds 1831. 182 puds. I860. 61-5 1875. 91 horizon is facilitated. The rotating part projects upwards about one-eighth of an inch, bo that the camera shall quite clear the legs of the tripod, and the whole thickness of the top is a trifle under one inch. Death of Mu. R. W. Sprague.—It is with regret we have to announce the death of Mr. Robert Winter Sprague, of the firm of Sprague and Go. To the deceased gentleman we are indebted for that skill and energy which have made the well-known “ Ink Photo " process of the firm a commercial success. Use of Carbon Bisulphide in Prisms. By H. Draper.—■ Although carbon bisulphide has a higher refractive power than glass, yet its use in spectroscopic observations has been much restricted, owing to the spectra produced by prisms filled with this material being ill-defined. The result is due to striae, caused by convection currents produced by inequality of temperature. These can be prevented by an active rotation of the liquid, and by maintaining the temperature of the prism constant; the former being effected by the author by a small propeller wheel driven by an electric motor, the latter by a temperature regu lator. The constant temperature also prevents the changing of the refractive energy of the liquid, and the continual shifting of the position of the spectral lines either in one direction or the other. The adoption of these devices is of great practical value, inasmuch as a bisulphide prism, whilst giving seven-eighths as much dispersion as six flint prisms, gives four times the light in the entire spectrum, and eight times the light in the region near G. For photographic purposes, the carbon bisulphide prism should replace the train of glass prisms, and even gratings.—• Journal of the Chemical Society. Production of Platinum in Russia. (Dingl Polyt. J., 255, 489.)—It is stated that platinum was discovered by accident in the process of gold-washing at Werch-Issetsk in the Ural moun tains in 1822. According to Kppen, however, the discovery of platinum appears to have been made at Newjansk in 1819. The extraction was commenced in 1825, 10 puds (1 pud = 16-38 kilos.) being obtained. In 1830 the quantity rose to 106 puds, and in 1840 it reached a maximum, namely 2133 puds. The large increase in 1840 was due to the introduction of the platinum coinage. The production fell as soon as the coining of platinum following quantities were obtained The district of Gloroblagodatski and the works at Nishne-Tagilsk are the centres of tho platinum production.—Chemical Societies Abstracts. Light and Sound METRETS.—Now the waves of light as they t.avel between the objects we are looking at and our eye, are of and useful arrangement devised by C. Cusworth, and calculated to be of use to the photographic t ourist. The top is double, and the upper part can be made to slowly rotate by turning a milled head, so that not only is it easy to follow - -s object, but the taking of a series of views which shall sweep the