A SCIENTIFIC TRIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 12

A SCIENTIFIC TRIP.

MR WAITE IN AUSTRALIA. . (From Ora Own Cosbxsfohbbht.) WELLINGTON, August 25. Mr Waite, curatoT of the Canterbury Museum, who has been on a holiday in \ Australia, returned to New Zealand by the Moana to-day. During his tour ■in 1 the Commonwealth b.6 was able to negotiate 'a number of exchanges with other museums. _Mr and Mrs Waite took advantage of the sailing of .the new 12,000ton "boat Orsova to visit Brisbane, on the occasion of the Jubilee of the separation from y New South Wales. ,The Orsoya is the first of the five big new ships thkt the Orient Company is tmilding, and Mr Waite says she is a very fine boat. The jubilee provided a very gay time in. Brisbane. Mr Waite utilised a good deal ''of his spare time in connection with, his favourite branch of soience — viz., the study ' of fishes, and the knowledge he gained will, he says, astist him in his work with New Zealand fishes. While he was in Hobartr he was fortunate in being able to look over tiie new steam , trawler Endeavour, which has been secured by the Toemanian Government, and there he met bis friend Mr, Danvig, who is in charge of the operations. The vessel, he found, was quite*** modern one, provided with up-to-date appliances, and also the latest appliances for scientific research. The Government hopes to do some investigation work with a view to commercial results. At present there is no trawling industry in Tasmania. Mr i Waite thinks that when the trawler gets to work off the T.asmanian coast, a num- , ber of fishes similar to those in New j Zealand will be found. While in Sydney I Mr Waite met Professor David at a I dinner given in his honour, and in honour also of Professor J. T. Wilson, <( who had been appointed to the fellowship of the Royal Society, London. Proj fessor Haswell, who is well known in j the South Island, presided on thai^ occaI sion. Since his return Professor David has been very busy with his University work, and v consequently he has not yeb been able to devote a great deal of attention to the specimens he secured as a member of Lieutenant Shackleton's expedition. The work will, however, be very carefully done by the professor and some of his student* when the University work is finished for the year.