A CONGRESS OF NEW ZEALAND SCIENTISTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 25

A CONGRESS OF NEW ZEALAND SCIENTISTS.

For the first time in the history of the dominion a meeting of her scientifio men will be held in the first week of February at Canterbury College, Christchurch. Hitherto it has been possible to have such meeting* only when the Australian Association for the Advancement of Science has held its periodical meeting in this country, but now, with the increased number of men engaged in scientific research, it has been found possible to gather together a fairly representative assembly for the discussion of papers. "The meeting has been arranged by the New Zealand Institute, and will be under the presidency of Dr L. Cockayne, F.R.S., the president of that scientific body. There will be four popular evening meetings. One of these will be occupied by the president's address, another will be devoted to a botanical lecture; a third to a discussion on the origin and structuro of mountains; while the fourth will deal with science and industry from the educational aspect (by Professor T. A. Hunter, of Victoria College), from the chemical aspect (by Professor Worley, of Auckland), and from the physical aspect (by Professor Clark, of Victoria College). A programme of papers has been drawn up at which a very varied series of subjects will come up for disoussion. It is hoped that anyone who is interested in science and industry will visit Christchurch during the week, February 4 to 8, and so help to make this meeting a success. It is an attempt to bring to the layman some of the results and outlooks of science, more especially in their relation to various industries; and all thinking people are now recognising the vast importance of a. more scientific treatment of all matters if the British dominions are to hold their own permanently in the struggle of commerce. We shall have many competitors in this struggle, and one of the reasons for the recent visit of the French Mission to this country has been to find out what is wanted here and what degree of co-operation can be looked for. This meeting will no-doubt provide opportunities for learning some of the problems and what is being done to meet them by the application of science. Any information respecting the congress may'be obtained from Dr F. W. Hijgendorff, of Lincoln College, or from Mr S. Page, of Canterbury College, Christchurch.