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Aerodromes Advice has been given on the maintenance of aerodrome surfaces and s )me additional research on " turf " production commenced. Greens Research There is a widespread demand for advice and servicing. The greens research area has been extended to include habitat studies on " weed" greens. There were two greenkeeper conferences during the year. INFORMATION BUREAU Publications. —A very large increase in the amount of material submitted for publication has taken place. Some twenty-five bulletins are now in hand.. New publications issued with the assistance of this section have been Paint Review and Agronomy Review. Arrangements have had to be made for most of the printing of the Department to be undertaken by private firms, and this arrangement has extended to the N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology after a period of eight months during which no material was set in type. Information. —District Information Officers are now operating in Auckland and Dunedin, giving special service to industry. An appointment in Christchurch is pending. This specialist service is supported by the publication of industrial abstracts in the Industrial Bulletin (issued with the Department of Industries and Commerce). Major requests for information from all industrial sources have totalled over 400. Library and Technical Records.—The general development of library and technical record resources reported in 1947 has been continued. Publicity and Photography. —The Department's activities have been brought before the public through displays (Christchurch Industries Fair), items of news in the daily press, and semi-technical articles in journals such as N.Z. Engineering. Photographic services are being provided for branch record and publicity work. War History.—Narratives on the work of the Department in defence science during the war will be completed shortly and an official war historian appointed. The Department has been allotted one volume in the official war history, entitled " Defence Science." MAGNETIC OBSERVATORY Terrestrial Magnetism.—At Amberley the three types of magnetographs were operated continuously and absolute observations were made weekly. Local data of international importance were forwarded regularly to various parts of the world. Magnetic data were supplied to the Marine Department for inclusion in the "New Zealand Nautical Almanac." Magnetic Survey. —The results of the recent magnetic resurvey of New Zealand and up-to-date magnetic charts should soon be available. Further studies have been undertaken on auroral displays, cosmic rays (including regular measurement), and climatology. Three reports have been submitted for consideration of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, which will be meeting in Oslo, Norway, during August, 1948. 2—H 34

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