SCIENCE CONGRESS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 198, 10 January 1913, Page 5

SCIENCE CONGRESS.

EDUCATION AND HEALTH. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Melbourne, January 9. At the Science Congress, Mr. Adamson, headmaster of AVesley College, in liis presidential address in the mental science section, said that in alertness, self-defence and power of initiative the Australian boy has no superior. His breeding and the nature of his country Bake him adventurous and ready to take risks. Dr. Purdy, Chief Health Officer of Tasmania, read a paper on the reduction of typhoid fever in Australia, which showed that the death-rate from that source has been reduced by one-third ii« the last thirty years. There were -•till, however, fifteen deaths per hundred thousand for the ten years ended 1910, whilst there had been only 6.5 in Xew Zealand, 7 in England, 6.2 in £cottand, and 4.6 im the United States.

INTERESTING DISCUSSION'S. Received January 9, 11.15 p.m. Melbourne, January 9 The council of the Science Congress cabled Professor Russel Wallace its greetings on his ninetieth birthday and an appreciation of his illustrious life •nd work. Dr. Dyer, the Government expert at the Maffra beet sugar factory, in a paper claimed that there was no reason why the culture of 'beet sugar should not attain as high a position in maintaining the fertility of Australian soils as It "had in reclaiming those of Europe and America.

Professor Fawsith (Sydney), in his presidential address in the chemistry section, said that the greatest development of this generation was the gradual but sure reduction of chemistry to an exact science.

Mr. F. Sehann, dealing with military science, said that the defence scheme had already created a marked effect for the better observance of law and order amongst young Australians.

THE DISCOVERY OF AUSTRALIA. Received January 10, 1.5 a.m. Melbourne. January 9. At the Science Congress. Mr. Petheriek (Sydney) claimed that Australia was discovered over 400 years ago by a Portuguese navigator named Delope, accompanied by Respucci. for whom the honor is claimed of i;rst making the American coast. Mr. IVtherick also stated that he possessed evidence showing that the coast of Westralia was visited by Europeans as far back as 1499.