ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16138, 15 January 1913, Page 9

ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.

AUSTRALIAN CONGRESS. . '■. SOIL FERTILITY. United Press Association—By Eleetxio Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, January 14. The Science Congress discussed gene* ; ral problems in regard to soil fertility - in Australia, and several papers were given on the subject. The general r opinion was that fertilisers in Australia were seldom worked out in cultivated land. Practically the whole of what was not used up by the crop remained as permanent additions to the 6oil within nine inches of the surface. .•; ORPHANS' ANNUITIES. .7 Mr Smith, acting Government statis- - tician of New South Wales, read a •'; paper on the cost of orphans' annuities-.'•!, in Australasia. He stated that at the. ■. age of forty-three, nine out of ten men - in the public service in New South Wales and eight out of ten in the Com- . monwealth were married. The number. , of children under sixteen to the hundred males between the ages of twentyone and seventy in the publio service in : New South Wales was 132, and in tha ~ Commonwealth 127. Amongst the general population in New South Wales the number was seventy. WHEAT IMPROVEMENT.

Mr A. Richardson read a paper OD wheat improvement. He said that the time was not far distant when wheat would be sold oir a grade like butter, fruit and other produce. The production of drought-resisting varieties war a problem of peculiar importance to Australia. Improved methods of grain culture had placed the wheat industry of the Commonwealth in a very secure position. TUBERCULOSIS. *■•■ The hygiene and sanitary science section decided to urge the Governments of the States , andNew Zealand to hold a conference of chief medical and veterinary officers with a view to reporting on uniform measures to control tuberculosis in cattle arid pigs. CLOSE OF»THE CONQRESS. (Received January 14, 11.45 p.m.) MELBOURNE, January 14, The Congress has ended. Professor David claimed that in importance of the papers and value of the work dona it was unsurpassed by any previous Congress. t • RECORDS WANTED. (Received Januarv 15, 12.50 e.m.) MELBOURNE, January 14. Tho Congress adopted recommendations that in view of the rapid decrease of Australian aborigines it was important in tho interests of science to se-' euro further records illustrative of their beliefs and customs; and in favour of a strict enforcement of fcp.o law against the indiscriminate export of scientific specimens.

The Congress appointed a committee to consider the best means of securing the efficient teaching of English pronunciation in Australian universities, colleges and schools. THE MOUNT LYELL DISASTER.

Dr Love, in a paper dealing with the North Mount Lyoll disaster, said that a large number of the victims lay peacefully with their heads pillowed on their arms and their bodies composed as if for sleep. Others were standing in the air-boxes, the air playing on their dead faces. Their eyes were bright, their cheeks rosy and tho lips cherry red as those of healthy infants. Dr Purdy, chief health officer of Tasmania, stated that it was probable that as a msuli of the disaster r.h# recommendations of the Transvaal Mining Regulations Commission of. 1910 would be adopted throughout Australasia. These include provision for oxygen breathing apparatus of an approved type for each miner,.