SCIENCE CONGRESS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11415, 11 January 1923, Page 6

SCIENCE CONGRESS

OPENING SESSION TO-DAY

ARRIVAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH DELEGATES. FEATURES OF CONFERENCE,' From 90 to 100 Commonwealth delegates to the conference of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, which opens to-day in Wellington, arrived yesterday afternoon by tho Uldmaroa. A number have also came to New Zealand by the Niagara, arriving in Auckland and coming on to Wellington by the Main Trunk express. Among those who came by the Sydney steamer yesterday were Sir Baldwin Spencer (the retiring president of the association), Mr G. H. Kiiih(fc{! (the president elect), Sir Douglas Mawson, of Antarctic exploration fame), Mr Ward (Under-Seore-tary for Mines, South Australia), Professor L. A. Cotton, Captain E. Kidson (Commonwealth Meteorological Office), and Mr E. C. Andrews (Government Geologist, New South Wales, secretary to the association). The delegates were met at the wharf and accorded a hearty welcome by Professors Farr (hon. secretary to tho New Zealand Association), Kirk, and Marsden, Dr. Adams (Government Astro afo me#, Han G>, M. Thomson, M.D.0., Dr. Thomson (Director of the Dominion Museum!, Dr Tillyard, Mr Oliver, Mr Lawrence Birks (chief electrical engineer to the Public Works Department), Mr Malcolm Fraser (Government Statistician), and Mr F. I. Knibbs, brother of the new president of the association. The first public lecture will he given this evening when the presi-dent-elect, Mr G. H. Knibbs, C.M.G., F.R.A.S., Director of the Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry, will be inducted and deliver his presidential address. In addition to the Australian delegates, a large number of New Zealand scientists -are also attending the congress. OFF-SHOOT OF BRITISH ASSOCIATION. The association is an off-shoot of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and its object is ‘ 'to give a stronger impulse and a more systematic direction to scientific inquiry, to promote the intercourse of those who cultivate science in the diferent parts of the British Empire with one another, and to obtain a greater degree of national attention to the objects of science.* 1 Its membership is open to “all persons interested in scientific pursuits,” and, while some of the proceedings are liable to be couched in language which is clear and expressive to a scientist but rather difficult for a layman, there will be from day to day a great deal of matter of general interest.

The congress is of great importance from a scientific point of view, the delegates being leaders in their particular branches of science in Australia and New Zealand. WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS. The following list of the sections of the association will give some idea of the wide scope of the subjects dealt with. The name of the president of each section is also given: A.—Astronomy, mathematics, and physics: Captain E. Kidson, 0.8. E., M.Sc.

B.—Chemistry, H. G. Smith, F. 0.5.; sub-section pharmacy; R. C. Cowley. „ G-—Geology and minleralogy: L Keith Ward, 8.A., B.E. D. Biology: Professor T. Harvey Johnston, M.A., D.Sc. E. -Geography and history: Professor G. Taylor, D.Sc. E .—Ethnology and anthropology; Captain G. Pitt-River* G. —Social and statistical science: C. BE. Wickens, A.1.A., F.S.S. H. —Engineering and architecture: Professor W. H. Warren, M.I.C.E. I. —Sanitary science and hygiene: Dr. Harvey Sutton, 0.8. E. J —Mental scienoe and education: J. A. Johnson, M.A. K.—Agriculture: A. E. V. Richardson. M.A., B.Sc. , L^— Veterinary science: Professor H. A. Woodruff, M.R.C.V.S. . ~c ' o P jlt for the free public lectures m the Town Ball, ana the separate conference of the sub-section pharmacy, to be held in the Dominion Farmers’ Institute, all the proceedings will he held at Victoria College. TO-DAY’S ARRANGEMENTS. The information office will open rt Victoria College this morning at 10 o’clock, and at the same hour there will be a general meeting of secretaries of sections, to he followed at 11 o’clock by a meeting of sectional committees. A civio reception will be accorded to the delegates at the Town Hall at noon.

The council of the association meets at 2 p.m. The delegates will be entertained at 3.30 at afternoon tea at the Kelburn Kiosk and Botanical Gardens. The president-elect, Mr G. H. Knibbs, C.M.G., will deliver hie presidential address at the Town Hall at 8 o’clock in the evening. The public are cordially invited to attend this and the other lectures in the Town Hall and Concert Chamber. EXCURSIONS FOR MEMBERS. The delegates will probably have little time for tripping during the congress, but Saturday afternoon has been left free from formal business for two excursions. The City Council has made possible an excursion to the Wainui-o-msta waterworks, in which it is hoped a large number of the Australian visitors in particular will be able to take part, and in which strangers to New Zealand will no doubt have a pleasant introduction to a typical piece of very attractive New Zealand scenery. Arrangements have also been made by the Wellington Harbour Board to take the members of the congress around the harbour on Saturday for the purpose of inspecting the harbour works and facilities provided by the board. VOLCANO OBSERVATORY.

Among the subjects which will come up for discussion at the meetings of the congress is the suggested volcano observatory for New Zealand. The recent earthquakes at Taupo received some attention from New Zealand geologists and physicists, but owing to the lack of an observatory pursuing systematic observations over a number of years the significance of the recent disturbances remains uncertain. Several of the Australian geologists who are visiting the congress have had an opportunity cf studying tho volcano observatory at Kilauea, in Hawaii, and consequently the discussion on this subject, wliich is being introduced by Mr Sussmilob and Dr. Allan Thomson, is likely to lead to some practical proposals being put forward. Australian and New Zealand scientists feel that in this important and rapidly developing branch of science the lead should not- be left to America and Japanese enterprise. WEATHER FORECASTS AND NAVIGATION.

One of the features of Section A will he a discussion, on upper winds,

daring -which the Commonwealth Meteorologist, Captain Kidson (an ex-Cjan-terbury resident), will give the result* of some valuable researches as to the circulation of winds during cyclones. The staff at Apia Observatory have forwarded valuable results of their observations, which it is anticipated will be of importance in connection with future navigation, and will lead to an improvement in weather forecasting. Several interesting paper* relating to the recent solar eclipse, to relativity, wireless transmission, etc., will be Tead and discussed by the members of this section