WHEAT IMPROVEMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8329, 15 January 1913, Page 8

WHEAT IMPROVEMENT.

CONTROL OF TUBERCULOSIS. MELBOURNE, January 14. At the Science Congress, Mr A. Richardson read a paper on “ Wheat Improvement. ’’ The tune was not far distant, he said, when wheat would be sold on grade, like butter, fruit, and other produce. The production of drought-resisting varieties was a problem of peculiar importance to Australia.

Mr Richardson added that improved methods of grain culture had placed the wheat industry of the Commonwealth in a very secure position. The Hygiene and Sanitary Science section decided to urge the Governments of the Australian States and New Zealand to hold a conference of the chief medical veterinary officers, with a view to reporting on uniform measures for the control of tuberculosis iu cattle and pigs. ORPHANS’ ANNUITIES. MELBOURNE, January 14. Mr Smith, Acting-Government Statistician of New South Wales, in a paper read before the Science Congress, on the sunject of the cost of orphans’ annuities iu Australasia, stated that at the age of forty-three years nine out of every ten men in the public service of New South Wales, and eight out of every ten in the Commonwealth, were married. The number of children under sixteen years of age to every 100 males between the ages of twenty-one and seventy in the Public Service of New South Wales was 132, and in the Commonwealth 127. Amongst the general population of New South Wales the number was seventy, and Of the Commonwealth eighty, VALUABLE WOlte ACCOMPLISHED. (Received January 14,11.45 pun.) MELBOURNE, January 14. The Science Congress has ended. Professor David claimed that, in importanco, the papers read and the -value of the work done were unsurpassed by any previous congress, AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES. ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION. (Received January 15, 0.50 ajn.) MELBOURNE, January 14. The Congress adopted recommendations that in view of the rapid decrease of the Australian aborigines it is important in the interests of science to secure further records illustrative of their beliefs and customs, and in favour of the strict enforcement of the law against the indiscriminate export of scientific specimens. It appointed a committee to consider the best means of securing the efficient teaching of English pronunciation in Australian universities, colleges and schools. LYELL MINE DISASTER.

Doctor Love read a paper dealing oath the North Lyell disaster. Hxesaid that a largo number of the victims lay peacefully with their heads pillowed on their arms and their bodies composed as for sleep. Others were standing at the air-boxes with the air playing on their dead faces. Their eyes were bright and their cheeks rosy, and the lips cherryred as a healthy infant’s. Dr Purdy, Chief Health Officer of Tasmania, stated that the probable result of the disaster would ho that the Transvaal Mining Regulations Commission’s recommendations of 1910 wonld bo adopted throughout Australasia, They include provision for ono oxygen knapsack, and pump, an air-mask, and two oxygon-breathing apparatus of approved typo for each miner.