ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 229, 10 January 1911, Page 5

ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE

CONGRESS AT SYDNEY

By Cable—.Press Association—Copyright. Received 9, 9 p.m. Sydney, January 9.

The twelfth session of the Australian Association Association for the Advancement of Science opened at the Sydney University, under the presidency of Professor Masson, of Melbourne. Over 500 delegates, thoroughly representative of the Commonwealth and New Zealand, are participating. After formal proceedings, the committees of the various sections got to work. Professor Marshall, of New Zealand, as president of the geological section, delivered an address dealing with the western margin of the Pacific basin. Dr. Marshall's conclusion ■was that the real boundary of the SouthWest Pacific passes through New Zealand, the Kermadec, Tonga, Fiji, New Hebrides, Solomon and Admiralty islands; that a land connection or approximation took place in the late mesogic or pleistocene age, probably the latter; that the eastern Pacific Islands were of different structure, nature and origin from the lands on this line, and that they were peopled by chance immigrants from them.

COLONIALS CONGRATULATED. Received 10, 12.35 a.m. Sydney, January 9. There was a brilliant gathering at the University to-night to hear Professor Masson deliver his presidential address. Lord Chelmsford presided. Professor Massoon exhaustively reviewed the progress of chemical science, and made congratulatory references to the work of Australasian students, particularly Professors Rutherford and Bragg. He warned Australian universities against the tendencies to devote their attention solely to utilitarian objects.