AN ABORIGINAL GENIUS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9857, 27 July 1914, Page 7

AN ABORIGINAL GENIUS.

SCIENTIST AND INVENTOR. SYDNEY, July 15. "The cleverest and most intellectual aborigine in Australia," are the words used by Mr Francis, of the Point Macleay Aboriginal Mission Station in South Australia, in referring to David Unaipon, a full-blooded blackfellow who has been brought up there. Unaipon is a philosopher, inventor, and musician, who devotes his spare time to the study of' evolution. He quotes Newton, Huxley, Darwin, and other evolutionists and philosophers. He has developed a remarkable mechanical bent, and has turned his talents in a practical direction by inventing a shearing machine declared to be of great value to the shearing industry. For years past, says a writer in one of the Sydney papers, Unaipon nas been an omnivorous reader. Often after a day's work he would remain up till the small hours of the morning deep in the study of Newton's works and other research studies. Perpetual motion has offered him a fountain of thought which has occupied his mind for years, and his regret is that scientists are not giving more time to the study of this problem, which he believes is capable of solution. While he was in search of it, he himself found out two new motions. Surely this is something great for an aborigine, largely self-taught, to accomplish. His achievements stamp him as a man of remarkable natural attainments. A FINE SPEAKER. As a speaker Unaipon has amazed clergymen and others who have hoard him. His English is perfect and his reasoning sound ana logical. H© is in earnest in the hop© that more will be done than is being done to save his fast-diminishing brothers. He knows their possibilities as few men do, and he says that a vast amount of intelligence has for many years been allowed to run to waste in the neglected blacks. His heart goes out to the missionaries who have helped the native so much, and he is a stout-hearted worker for them.

"Tradition says that thousands of years ago there was a migration of natives from the north-west to the south-east of Australia," observed Unaipon. "One by one the tribes, weakened by the long march, fell out, but the Narrinyerri tribe, to which I belong persevered, until at last, confronted by the Southern Ocean at J.akes Albert and Alexandria, they could proceed po further, and settled down."

"My education was confined to the three R's," said he in answer to a question. "I was taught, at the Point Macleay Mission Station. My teacher talked about the wonderful progress made during the 19th century progress in science, art and commerce, and mentioned also the three problems which had puzzled science—tho philosopher's stone, the elixir of life, and perpetual motion. The latter problem attracted me. About 15 years ago I took up tho study of mechanics, and read all the books of philosophy I could *et. I studied the laws of gravity and motion on an inclined plane, and directed my attention principally to the centre of gravity of moving bodies. I now claim that I have discovered a means by which spherical motion might be reduced to lateral motion, or, in other words, reduced a mathematical curve to a straight line. By direct pressure to the centre I got motion." "HURLING ELECTRICITY." Yet another complex problem that has claimed his attention is the polarisation of light and the concentration of light at a given point. "These would be tho greatest weapons in future warfare," prophesied Unaipon. "We are gradually coming to the age when we might expect to be able to hurl electricity, like Nature does, for instance, in the shape of lightning." Speaking of the science of flying, he claimed to have restored "the lost tfrt" of making the boomerang hover over his head like a bird and return to the point of despatch. The principle of the boomerang oan be applied to the aeroplane, he asserted.

"An aeroplane can be manufactured that j will rise straight into the air from the ground by the application of the boomerj ang principle. Tne boomerang is shaped to rise in the air according to the velocity I with which it is propelled, and so can an aeroplane. This class of flying machine oan be carried on board ship, the immense advantages of which are obvious." ; LOVER OF ORGAN MUSIC. 1 Unaipon is a musician of no mean ability, and may frequently be heard on the organ, interpreting some of Mendelssohn's j masterpieces with a finish envied by many another player. When asked what class of music ho preferred, he said, "Just this simple class of music," and held up a piece of musio for the organ. "I love organ music," he continued with a look that told how true were his words. "I never miss an organ recital when I am in Adelaide.

"I have a little boy. He is nine years old. I want to see that boy well educated, and that is why I am so keen on my invention proving successful. I don't want him to bo a parasite and have to rely upon the Government or mission, but to become an honourable citizen of Australia.