SCIENCE CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 17, Issue 288, 22 August 1923, Page 7

SCIENCE CONGRESS

WOOD ALCOHOL THE FUT OF THE FUTURE DANGER OF MAGNETIC VARIATIONS By Telegraph.— Press Association. —UOPYBIOHT. Melbourne, August 21. The Science Congress discussed the questions of wheat diseases and the production of wood alcohol which,, it is claimed, is of most fundamental importance to Australia, as alcohol must become the fuel of the future. The Botanical Section discussed the revegetation of Krakatoa, where all plant life was destroyed in the great eruption of 1883. It is stated that the vegetation is now alost impenetrably thick. „ Dr. Armstrong, the medical officer of a portion of mandated Samoa, told the conference that the natives there, owing to the introduction °f , clv ? s ?" tion, were replacing their healthy huts with corrugated iron structures. 1 hey also wore European clothing without understanding the necessity for changing it, when wet. . In a discussion on terrestrial magnetism. it was asserted that the variation and the consequent chart of errors in some parts of the Pacific were found so great that similar errors near shore might easily lead to a ship foundering in foggy weather. —Press Assn. DECLINE OF NATIVE RACES (Rec. August 21. 9.50 p.m.) Melbturno, August 21.. At the Science Congress Dr. Cilento read a paper dealing with the decline in the native races in.the Pacific since they came in contact with white races. The chief causes of the decline were imported diseases, and economical, social, and psychological factors.— Press Assn.

(Rec. August 22, 1.15 a.m.) Melbourne, August 21. The Science Congress dealt to-day chiefly with the effect of civilisation cn the Pacific races. —Press Assn.