PERPETUAL MOTION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS.
Sir, — Reading your sub-leader, "Some Strange Devices," there is no doubt that many men have wasted time searching for perpetual motion. In the New Zealand Exhibition, held in Dunedin in 1865, in the building now used as the hospital, Mr Arthur Beverley exhibited a sideboard clock, with compensation balance, and apparatus to keep it wound up by the variations in temperature and pressure of the atmosphere. This time-piece was a very near approach to perpetual motion, as the variations of the atmosphere were amply sufficient to keep it going until the machinery wore out. It had been going for many months, and had never failed. Mr Beverley deduced from experiments that a cubic foot of air, insulated at a mean temperature, will, by its expansion and contractions, exert a power capable of raising a pound weight 1ft high in fifteen days. This fact once established, it is clear that if a time-piece could be made delicate enough to be driven by a weight of 11lb falling 12in in fifteen days, a receiver capable of containing a cubic foot of air will keep the clock going for ever.
The arrangement of the time-piece exhibited was as follows: — In the base is an air-tight receiver of considerable capacity, which only communicates with the external atmosphere through a tube, 5in in diameter, carefully soldered to the upper side of the receiver, and passing very nearly down to the bottom of it. A considerable quantity of oil being poured into the tube, it effectually closes the aperture, and shuts off the enclosed air from all direct communication with the external air, and, consequently, any variation of the bulk of the air in the receiver, whether from variation of temperature or pressure of the atmosphere, will produce a variation in the level of the oil in the bottom of the cistern, and, of course, a variation of the level of the oil in the tube corresponding to, but as much greater than the variation in the cistern, as the area of the tube is less than the area of the cistern. A float rests on the oil in the tube (and rises and falls with it) of sufficient weight to be able, in falling, to wind up the actual driving weight of the clock. The float acts on the driving weight through the agency of Huyghen's endless chain, the peculiar property of which is that even when the clock is being wound up, the full force of the driving weight continues to drive the works with unimpaired energy. The whole arrangement is so proportioned, that a variation of ldeg (Fahrenheit) in the temperature of the atmosphere causes a change of level of the oil in the tube of two-tenths of an inch, and, consequently, a perceptible motion of the float. As the diurnal variation in Otago is greatly in excess of that quantity, there must always be sufficient motive power to propel the hands. The wheel work is of the lightest description, and the torsion balance adopted has such a slow motion as to call for a minimum expenditure of motive force.
After the Exhibition this clock was exhibited, if I remember rightly, in the window of George Young, watchmaker, Dunedin, but I think I last saw it at Mr Beverley's house, but that is over thirty years ago. If still in existence, and going, it would be a splendid exhibit for the forthcoming Exhibition.—Yours, etc., A. H. S. -Press, 20/10/1900.
AN APPRECIATION.
THE LATE MR BEVERLEY.
(By Sir Robert Stout, C.J.) GISBORNE, October 26.
In the passing away of Arthur Beverley, of Dunedin. Now Zealand has lost its most eminent scientific man. He was eminent not in one branch but in many branches of science. He was a botanist, a geologist, an astronomer, a mechanician and a mathematician, and with all the knowledge and skill none so modest as Arthur Beverley. He was born in Aberdeen, and at a very early age lost his father, and, like many Scotch boys, he had to go to work early to help his mother. He had not the advantage of much schooling. Whilst very young and at work he was very fond of going into the fields to observe flowers, insects, etc. He had a great desire to become acquainted with insect life, but he could not afford a book on entomology. One day, however, he saw in a second-hand bookstall a French book on the subject, and bought it for a penny, but he did not know French. Next week he picked up a French grammar for a penny, and later got a French dictionary for twopence. This helped him so that he might read the French book on entomology.
Mr Beverley learned watchmaking in Aberdeen, and later went to London, where for some time he worked at his trade. Afterwards he emigrated to Victoria, and went to the diggings, but was not successful. Then he sought work in Melbourne at his trade. I was told by the late Mr William Strachan, who knew him well in Melbourne and New Zealand, that whilst in Melbourne a shipmaster brought to Mr Beverley’s employer a chronometer to be repaired. The watchmaker said it could not be repaired in Melbourne and the shipmaster had better take it back to England with him. Mr Beverley asked to see it, and said he thought he could repair it. The employer said if he damaged the instrument he would have to pay its value. Mr Beverley repaired it successfully, and his employer then discovered he had an expert in his service. Some time afterwards Mr Beverley determined to go to New Zealand. His employer tried vainly to dissuade him, and offered him permanent employment and higher wages to remain. Mr Beverley reached Otago towards the end of the ’fifties. In New Zealand his old love of natural history reasserted itself, and he attained great knowledge of New Zealand plants. When Dr Beggoren, of Upsala University, visited New Zealand to study cryptoganic plants, he was recommended to see Mr Beverley. They made many excursions in the bush together, and Dr Beggoren afterwards stated that he had met no man with such a knowledge of this class of plants as Mr Beverley. I made many excursions with him in the bush. It was delightful to have him as a companion. He knew every plant and tree and its allies in other countries. I published some notes of our excursions over thirty years ago.
Mr Beverley excelled not only in botany. He was a great astronomer. He made his own telescope, a 4-inch instrument. He observed the second transit of Venus, and his observations were received by the Royal Astronomical Society. The English astronomers got him to mend and fix up their instruments in Canterbury, where they took their observations. He had an accurate knowledge of the mathematics of astronomy. He not only know all the constellations, but he was well aware of numerous astronomical problems that were being discussed by astronomers of other countries. I remember when Roscool’s book on the spectroscope was published Mr Beverley saying that it would open up a new field in astronomy. He himself constructed a spectroscope before, I believe, any arrived in New Zealand. He was also profoundly interested in geology, and when gold was said to have been discovered in the Lindis Pass he went from Dunedin to inspect the place. This was before the discovery of Gabriel’s Gully in 1861. He came to the conclusion it would not be gold-producing, and he was right.
Mr Beverley was a great mechanician. He invented the planimeter which, with improvements by a Swiss mechanician, is now used by every survey office in the Dominion. He constructed a clock which is wound up by the variation of atmospheric pressure on the principle of the aneroid barometer. This clock was exhibited at the Exhibition of 1865, and went for many years without even being oiled. The clock is still in Dunedin, and is going. He also invented a clock escapement, and many other mechanical contrivances. I remember the late Mr W. Reid Douglas, who was a skilled mechanician, telling me that he visited the Society of Arts Museum. Going round the exhibit with the curator, he observed several exhibits of Mr Beverley’s inventions. The curator asked Mr Douglas if he knew Mr Beverley, and where he was. Mr Douglas said, “Why do you ask?” The curator replied that there were several prizes that had been awarded Mr Beverley, and they did not know whore to find him. Mr Douglas told him, and the curator wrote to Mr Beverley, telling him of the prizes awarded him. Mr Beverley replied that he did not require the money, and the society had better offer prizes for more inventions. Mr Beverley contributed many articles to the press on astronomy, on mechanics and hydraulics. Several of his articles appeared in the “English Mechanic.” He prepared a book of geometrical problems, which at one time he intended to publish, but his dislike of publicity — which grew on him as age advanced — has prevented it seeing the light. More than one mathematician has told me that they were original and able. Everybody who came in contact with him felt that he was a genius. I specially remember a high compliment paid to him by the Rev. Frank Simmons, rector of the Dunedin High School, over forty years ago. Mr Simmons was lecturing in the Oddfellows’ Hall, George street, Dunedin, and speaking of colonial life, he said, “We have amongst us a man of genius who, if he were in London, would be made much of, but whose inherent modesty and our lack of appreciation have left unknown in our midst.” Mr Beverley may be said to have had three hobbies —an intense love of gardening and of flowers and shrubs and trees, a fondness for geometrical problems, and mechanics. He was kindness personified. He helped many. Above all, his greatest characteristic was extreme modesty. No one who came into close contact with him but revered him. He was always helpful to any student who desired aid. His life was an example of what thrift and self-education may accomplish, and I feel sure that all who knew him will keep him in lasting remembrance. -NZ Times, 28/10/1907.
HELP FOR OTAGO UNIVERSITY.
DUNEDIN, 31st October. It is understood that the late Mr. Arthur Beverley's real estate, which has been bequeathed to Otago University, is of the value of not less than £10,000, and is to form a separate trust fund. In the will preference is expressed for teaching the mathematical, mechanical, and physical sciences, and subjects akin thereto, and that natural science be next considered. The desire is also expressed for the founding of scholarships to encourage and assist young persons of both sexes who have talent and industry but not wealth. Provision is also made to printing and publishing such of the testator's manuscript works as the executors may select for the purpose. -Evening Post, 1/11/1907.
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| 1860 photo, be right |
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