POLAR RESEARCH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1643, 9 January 1913, Page 7

POLAR RESEARCH.

VALUB TO AUSTRALIA. ADDRESS BY PROFESSOR ' j DAVID. • Hi TeidtrMh—Prcis Association—OoDyrltrtaV Melbourne, January 8. Professor David, in his presidential ad- , dress to the Congress of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Saience, made referenco to, the Australian climate past-and present, with special reference to the Arctic and sub-Antarctic factors in its'■ control. Professor David denied that • Captain Amundsen had stolen a march on Captain Scott. The latter was well aware that , Captain Amundsen intended to make a dash for the Pole. Although the scientific results from such a dash as Amundsen's did not bulk as large as Scott's, yet the geographical, meteorological, and oceanographical. results Were of extreme and unique intorest. Professor David said he was of-opinion that there was scarcely a shadow of doubt that Scott, after desperate struggles, from which Amundsen, through, superior knowledge and experience, was exempt, reached the Pole. • He recalled the fact, that'. Commander Evans was attacked bjr scurvy a fortnight after parting from Scott and his companions, l ; who were making the final dash for tho, Pole.' Professor David said that Evans considered the attack was due to eating pemmican, ; whereas Scott and his companions had been using fresh meat., It was' therefore, that any member of the Pole party had been attacked by scurvy, though iliere was some little anxiety on the matter. Referring, to. Dr. Mawson, Professor David said Dr. Mawson's 1 great ambition was to make good the:work which had already been begun on tho south, magnetic polo by Sir Ernest Shackleton. The Macquarrio Islands supplied fillable data'for, forecasting tho weather in Australia and New Zealand, especially in New Zealand. Joint arrangement should be made between Australia and New Zealand" for the upkeep of.tbo wireless station in tho ,Macquarries for this pur-' p°sc.. •. , • A CHANGING, CLIMATE; , ' - (Roc. January ?, 1 ,: a.m.) Melbourne, January 8, At the Science, Congress Mr. Howchin, lecturer on geology at Adelaide University, . in his. presidential addressin tho Geology Section, said thero was ; convincing proof that the-climate 6f.Central and South' Central Australia lmd --changed much;for .the. worsl within recent times, and from being well-watered- and productive the . oountry had become arid and - riverless. ,- . ~ SCOPE Or THE SCIENCE CONGRESS. . The Aneetings' of 1 the Association for the Advancement, of Science are by no means attended by t scientiiic men and women exclusively,- but- tilfio largely by, people who may be'classed as friends pf science, interested mpro or less in scientific mailers. , Not the least-important aspect of .these congresses, ■ saystho' "Sydney Horning Herald, ,is the social aspect. Men and i women gather from all parts of Australia and New .Zealand, and visitors to Australia from yarious parts of: tho world are always iri evidence, so tiiat r a unique'opportunity.' is presented for the interchange of ideas. ' ■■ '.-'p Since the formation of the. association in 1888, niuch:valuable work: has been done.'' Representations pre always made to-the; Governments,' Federal and State, based; on ' tluf ronorts .'• of • the.. committees, and.every...consideration has- been given to the .recommendations of the association. The general council of the association, is a ,tmly; Federal, body, and .'it meets on .three"' occasions . during tho/ progress of ; tho congress. .It is the mouthpiece of all the States in>'regard to scientific mat- - tors./j r, ■'■. - - • 1 ] ■ - A-.further effort.isl'to.'be made by the ' oongress now > about to meet to • secure the establishment of' a: solar observatory in Australia. . It-has,been urged by scientific men in all parts of the .world that a solar • observatory in' Australia is neces- ' sary as tho link to complete the chain of such observatories extending -round the world. "Miss '.Proctor, : the. visiting ;astronotner, is'fjoing specially to Melbourne to take part in the discussion.'. : , ■ Owing to the fact that the British Association for/the Advancement of. Science meets in Australia in August and September next year. it is likely that tho next Australasian Congress will be postponed till 1916. ; It will ■in all-probability be he'.d in Hobart in January of that year.