CONGRESS ITEMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22627, 15 January 1937, Page 11

CONGRESS ITEMS

POINTS FROM LECTURES BRISBANE RIVER BRIDGE TOTAL COST OF £1,154,000 The Brisbane Ilivjer bridge, of which construction began on .Tune 1, 1935, is to be of a symmetrical cantilever design, with an overall length of llG.'ift. between the centres of the anchor piers and a clear span of 924 ft. between the centres of the main piers, one of which is situated on the northern and one on the southern bank of the river. The roadway will be GOft. wide between the kerbs, with two footways outside the main girders, each J Oft. wide. The headway for shipping is 100 ft. clear at high water. The bridge and approaches extend 4513 ft. 'I lie contractors' tendered price is £'1.154,000, of which £744,639 is for the steelwork and £409,361 for the substructure, deck and roadway approaches.—Dr. J. ('. Brad field, designer of the Sydney Harbour and Brisbane River bridges.

Influenza Safeguards "Several methods of immunising human beings are being tried with hopeful results, but we cannot yet say whether a practical method of preventing, influenza will be developed."—Dr. F. M. Burnet. New Zealand Fish Oils "New Zealand fish oils so far investigated exhibit potencies comparable with those of oils from similar species in other parts of the world. Some of the liver 0i15, 9 notably those of proper and ling, are sufficiently rich in the antirachitic vitamin to offer promise of commercial development." - Dr. Marion M. Cunningham, Wallacevillo Veterinary Laboratorv.

Once a Continent "New Zealand was once of continental dimensions, extending from Antarctica in the south through certain Pacific islands to New Guinea in the north, and was never connected with, or populated front, the east coast of Australia. Tu this way has been explained the reason why, in its fauna, though not very far distant from Australia. New Zealand bears a. closer relationship to Lord Howe Island, New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands, Fiji and the Solomons than to Australia." —Miss Joyce Allan, Australian Museum, i::i a paper to the zoology section.

A Geological Trip Members of tho geological 'section were not prevented by the wet from making an excursion to Milford yesterday afternoon to study interesting formations in the cliffs of that part of the coastline, under the guidance of Professor J. A. Bartrum. Geologists are used to exploring rough country in all weathers, and rain matters little to them.

Strange Tiepln One of the most genial of the delegates to the congress is Mr. A. S. Kenyon, of Melbourne, president of the anthropology- section, formerly commissioner of waterworks in Victoria. After his retirement he made, what had been a part-time hobby, the study of the ethnology of the Australian aboriginal, the main interest of his life, and he holds some very well-informed and decided opinions about the way in which they should be treated by the State. Distinguished by his short white beard Mr. Kenyon attracts attention also by the peculiar tie and lapel pins he affects. They are made from cutting implements of the aboriginal, small pieces of stone which have been shaped by the natives.

WORK OF CHEMISTS SERVICE TO SOCIETY Two sister societies, the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry and the New Zealand section of the Institute of Chemistry (Great Britain ittid Ireland), held their annual meetings co-opera-tively in Auckland last night. In the course of an address as president of the New Zealand institute, Professor F. P. Worley, of Auckland University College, discussed the service which chemists could render to the community in the Dominion, with particular reference to nutrition and the prevention of damage to natural assets, such as soil, clear air and streams, and harbours and estuaries likely to be polluted by industrial development. The speaker urged closer study of measures against harm from the effluent from dairy factories and pulp mills. One of the "latter, lie said, would begin operations shortly and others were certain to he built in course of time. Such study would be helpful to New Zealand industry.

In his presidential address to the other society. Mr. F. H. V. Fielder discussed the claim that the world's troubles were due to a surfeit of science. He said that there were factors which might give rise to such an idea, but it was inconceivable that the onward march of science could deliberately he stopped. Something could be done, however, to make its advance an orderly one.

This involved complete internationalism in science. The rise of intense nationalism tended to restrict any such movement even in-time of peace. If it continued, the co-operation between nations which was necessary to bring about the wisest use of science was farther off than ever.

The following officers of the British society were elected: —President, .Mr. F. H. V. Fielder (Auckland); honorary secretary, Mr. P. White (Wellington); committee, Dr. R. Gardner (Dunedin), Dr. H. O. Askew (Nelson), .Mr. T. H. McCombs, M.P. (Christchurch), Mr. G. A. Lawrence, Mr. A. 1). Monro, Mr. M. 11. H. Stewart and Mr. G. M. Moir (Wellington).