SCIENCE CONGRESS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 9, 9 January 1913, Page 5

SCIENCE CONGRESS.

CLIMATIC CHANGES. .By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) Melbourne, January 8. At the Science Congress, Professor HoAvchin, lecturer on geology at Adelaide University, iu his presidential address in the geology section, said that there was convincing proof that the climate of Central and South Central Australia had changed much for the Averse Avitliin recent times. From being a Avell-Avatered and productive country it had become arid and riverless. “THE AUSTRALIAN BOY.” (Received 9.15 a.hi.) Melbourne, January 9. At the Science Congress, Mr Adamson, headmaster of the Wesley College, in his presidential address in the Mental Science Section, said that in alertness, self-defence, and power of imitative, the Australian hoy has no superior; his breeding and the nature of Ins country make him adventurous and ready to take risks. TYPHOID FEVER FIGURES. Doctor Purdy, chief health officer of Tasmania, in a paper entitled “Reduction of Typhoid Fever in Australia,” showed that the death-rate therefrom had been reduced by onethird during the last thirty years; if ivas still, hoivever, 15 per 100,000 foi the decade ended 1910. Whilst the death-rate ivas only 6.6 in Ncav Zealand, it ivas 7.0 in England, 6.2 it Scotland, and 46 iu the United States. AUSTRALIAN CHARACTERISTICS. BOY AND GIRL STUDY. (Received 9.55 a.m.) Melbourne, January 9. Mr. Adamson, continuing his address, said if it ivere true that the' Australians were a gambling people, one must remember that this land of flood and flame Avas, and must bo, a breeder of gamblers, or, to he more polite, men avlio willingly took risks. Their readiness and resource Avere s'hoAvn in the fact that Australians who Avandered aAvay to make a living abroad almost invariably succeeded, thanks to the merciful Australian theory that no work could degrade men.

The average Australian hoy, he said, Avas lacking in chivalrous respect t girls of his OAvn age; nor Avas the boy wholly to blame. There had taken place a gradual, even rapid, breaking down of old formalities in the inter course of the sexes. The life of camp and beaches was only symptomatic of the change that had been going on in the social system. Whichever sex might he at fault later, he Avould say without fear of effective contradiction that in adolescence it Avas almost always the girl Mo commenced. Casual acquaintanceships Avere made in publice places, if not by actually accosting the hoy, then by Avliat might mildy he termed the look of encouragement. Nothing Avas more socially amazing than the Avay parents in respectable positions alloAved their daughters to roam the streets unchecked, adding scalps to their belts in unwholesome rivalry, and seeing Avho could pick up the greatest number of chance acquaintances. Then folloAved correspondence, -almost invariably started by the girl. Mr. Adamson asked: “Was no combination possible to effect a reform which Avould make the girls value themselves at their true worth, so as to recover the lost respect of boyhood and take their rightful place?” Doctor Wilson said he did not believe Avliat Mr. Adamson said regarding the hoy and girl question. Doctor Mary Booth said there Avas a very urgent need of the education of girls being entrusted to A\orneu teachers avlio could understand tne girl and protect her from dangers and mistakes.