The Express.
London, England, 1847-11-26 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL.

DIOCESAN TRAI,INO SCHOOL.—A local committee
for the collection of funds has been established in Worcester,
in connexion with the committee appointed at the Binning. '
ham mediae, to promote the establishment of a diocesan
training school. The promoters say, "It is computed that
not lees than 1,000 pupil teachers will be 'menaced, under
the recent minutes, by August, 1348 ; and that it is probable
that at the end of five years there will be of the Queen's
scholars to be established by those minutes not less
than from 300 to 450, or, at the lowest calculation, 300.
Whereas the provincial training schools now under
inspection accommodate about 150 only; of these schools,
we find that at Exeter reporting that ' the demand for
teachers is far greater than the supply;' the Durham, that the
demand has been 3 to I, but is now expected to be es 2 to 1;
the York and Ripon, that it is as 10 to 1 ; the Chester, that
the demand is double the ripply. Independently also of
this probable supply of Queen's scholars, whose services will
be lost to the cause of church education unless training
schools are provided for them, the great encouragement held
out to schoolmasters by the government, in the shape of
augmentation of salary and retiring pensions, will certainly
have the effect of attracting many more persons to that pra-
te/aka than are now found willing to engage in it. For all
these training schools will be needed, if their powers are to
be turned to the beat account for the promotion of the edu-
cation of the poor."
WARWICKSHIRE.

....
INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS.—The
members of this institution met by adjournment at Birming-
ham on Wednesday. The attendance was numerous, and
included gentlemen connected with various mechanical
works in different parts of the kingdom. Mr. Stephen-
son being unable to attend, Mr. J. E. M'Conoell,
of the London and North-Western Railway, pre-
aided. Several papers upon subjects of interest to the
scientific world were read, and each elicited use-
ful discussion. Amengst these was one explaining
certain improvement. in the construction of engines for
'mime trains. It appeared that the engine referred to
(the Atlas) belongs to the class called " inside cylinder en-
gines," and that it has inside framing, and six wheels, all of
them coupled that the weight of the engine, in working
condition, is 24 tons ; the cylinder" are secured to each other
by internal flanges ; and the valves are inclined towards
each other, situated in one chest, and being placed below
the cylinders, afford a direct exhaustion to the chimney.
The engine referred to, on one occasion, drew a train con-
sisting of 101 waggons, weighing 697 tons, a distance of 29
miles, at an average speed of 13,7 miles an
hour. The same engine, in the month of June
last, ran 3,004 miles, with a consumption of coke
of 0.2141 M. per ton a mile.—The chairman said that, in his
opinion, these engines would perform their work at one-half
the met of the coke required for others: the plan on which
they were constructed was of the best description, and the
provision made for the expansion of the boiler was a point
of the greatest importance, whilst the arrangement of the
valves, gearing. &c., reflected the greatest credit on those
who had carried the plan into operation. Of hie own know-
ledge he could say that one of these engines had stone more
work of she same description than any other he had known.—
Other papers having been read, and the business of the
meeting concluded, the Chairman announced that since they
last assembled he had had an interview with the railway
commissioners and their engineer. and that they had signified
their approval of the plan for effecting a communication be-
tween engine driver' and guards of trains, the principle of
which he had explained to the members at the last meet-
ing of this institution, and that the same having been ap-
proved by the directors of the London and North Western
Railway, preparations were making to carry it out Oa those
lines. lie further stated that he had another scheme in
view as arising out of this arrangement, but that
as it was not yet sufficiently matured, he should defer the

announoentent of it until another meetine.—ln reserving a
vote of thanks to the Chairman, the mayor of Birmingham
expressed his anxiety that the railway companies would be
prevailed upon to grant free passes along their lines to enable
the members of this institution to attend the meetings.
Seeing how important it was to them that inch subjects
should be discussed, he did net doubt but that if spoliation
were made in a proper 111161 Mar it would be successful.—The
meeting adjourned until January.