BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 80, 27 August 1914, Page 4

BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

(SCLENCE MADiE INTERESTING. FACTS ABOUT IWIRJSLEB& By Cable—Press Association —Copyright Sydney, August 26. Sir Oliver Lodge, referring to the fact that wirclcus messages travelled further at night time and better at sunrise and sunset, pointed out that liigh up in the atmosphere there was too tow a pressure while bekw it was too high. Between tllie two must bo a good conductlayer Of air and this would provide a steady and l constant means of travel at night, when the disturbing influence of sunlight "was* not present. Mr. Balsiilie, Commonwealth wireless expert, stated, that he had sent messages 2000 (miles' at night, as against 450 miles in the day time- If the wave lengftiii was increased the range was greatly extended in the day time, hut not at night.

SOME INTERESTING CONTRIBUTIONS. At the Science Oongiless, Professor David, confLrminm Sir Douglas Mawson'a deductions, aaid : that the presence of the Aii'ferctica iwas of iiho utmost importance from the meteorology point of view. Wtere the Antarctica obliterated there would be a great deal less atmospheric unrest, apd it would be impossible to predict the effect this would have on the -rainfall. Prof. Kirkaldy's paper on the economics of marine fuel showed the advantages of oil over coal. Prof. Elliot Smith discoursed on the ancient inhabitants of Egypt and the Soudan. Dr. Davenport created considerable interest by a paper on heredity. Emotional traits showing sincerity or insincerity, generosity or,stinginess, grogariousness or sechisiver.ess, truthfulness or untruthfulness, were all qualities w*n>se presence or absence was determined r .iy the factor of heredity. In the agriculture section, Mr. Richardson, siuperintendent of agriculture for Victoria, delivered an address on wheat breeding. Sir 11. Reiohel opened a discussion in the education section on the training of teachers. , Prof. Bateson gave a demonstration ot Mendeiian phenomena. He. said the science of Mendelism expressed the fact that the individual could only pass to hia offspring qualities he had received from his own pedigree. Once a pedigree was free froim deformation it- was always free. SYDNEY SESSIONS ENDED. Received 20, 10.40 pjc. Sydney, August 26. The sitting of the Science Congress in Sydney has finished. Many attended Sir Xormand MacLaurin's funeral, and subsequently, the_ bulk of the delegates departed l by special trains for Brisbane, where the sittings will be continued. A number, including Professor Rutherford, departed l by the Riyerina. , / It is announced that the next Congress will J)e (held at Manchester. A number were read to-day in the botany section. Dr. Smith read a paper on "The Bon'-s of Aboriginals," and deducte I 'that the different races of onankini might be differentiated iby the texture of the bones. Sir Douglas Mawso-n opened his levhire tour on his South Pclar expcdit'.o i at the Town Hall.