OTAGO INSTITUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21641, 11 May 1932, Page 10

OTAGO INSTITUTE

ADDRESS BY PROFESSOR JACK The second ordinary meeting 'of the year of the Otago Institute was held at. the University last night. Mr F. J. Turner occupied the chair. Dr Benson gave some particulars of a piece of stone found at the Tainui quarry, Anderson’s Bay. He said it was One of the best examples of stone of this character he had seen. The speaker showed the remarkable feathery nature of the surface of the stone, and ■ said it was one of the most interesting examples of local lava he had seen. The. presidential address of the astronomical branch of the institute was then given by Professor Jack, who took as his subject “ New Conceptions of Matter.” The speaker dealt with the subject of protons, electrons, wave lengths, atoms, light, diffraction, and scinfillation, and by experiment and • the aid of lantern slides interestingly deduced the points which went to support his arguments. He also' spoke’ of the atoms in the stars and space and on the subject of neutrons The lecturer concluded by saying that they lived in a wonderful world. The more one knew about it the more one admired and wondered, and the more one stood in awe. A piece of dirt became a marvellously ordered universe of the same nature as beautiful crystal and the heavenly stars. Of the earth, earthy, it was ethereal in character. Mr J. C. Begg, in moving a vote of thanks to the lecturer, said he thought one characteristic of the investigations.in physics which had manifested itself during the last decade or so was _th at it appeared that, instead of simplifying matters, they had made them more complex. However, it was hoped that the various theories would converge into some solution in the end, _ ■ - The motion was carried by acclamation.