AERIAL NAVIGATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2862, 20 January 1909, Page 19

AERIAL NAVIGATION.

.«. LO.NDON, January 12. A three-days' aeronautic conference has commenced at the Ritz Hotel. Forty de-legates from different tounlries are present. January 13. The Aeio/mitical Conference decided to found prizes totalling £48,0C0 for an aviation competition. It alro appointed a committee to discuss with tlie various Governments the question of the regulation of the traffic of aerial navigation. January 18. The Times, in tbe course of a special article, recommenda the appointment of a Royal Commission of Aeronauts, to maintain secrecy regarding the military and naval applications of airships, types of machines, systems of attack and defence, and airships for colonial defence, while th.3 following subjects would be public: — The present position of aeronautics, types of veh«*ls, schemes for the encouragement of international aerial laws in p-ea-ce and war, recommendations regarding anship-> in war time, the consideration of inteinational open routes for all airships, the application of airships to scientific research and exploration. The confidential portion could be reserved for the benefit of our naval and military authorities. The- Times adds that with the Duke of Argyll, Lord Montagu of Beaulicu. Admiral Edward Seymour, Major-general Badeix-Powell, and Mr W. J. Lanca&ter (Admiralty Engineer) it would be possible to constitute the nucleus of a commission whkh would be able to approach the tubjeefc from every standpoint . and to prepare an invaluable report. The leading nations would be invited in connection with the public section to send delegate?, and thus the labouis of the commii-?ion would be of practical service to the whole civili-ed world. BERLIN, Januaiy 12. Kiupp'* foundry i 6i 6 const iuc ting a nuinh':x of /jeiial torpedoes,