i86 i-ORKS'i' PKoc.KKSs IX TiiK DRA Ki:xsi;i:kc;. 



Though llic writer has reports in his ])ossession indicating; 

 tliat similar progression in regard to the indigenotis forests is 

 taking place in the neighbourhood of (Mivicr's Hoek Pass, he 

 has refrained from referring to them until a j^ersonal visit has 

 been made. It is only owing to unforeseen and unavoidable cir- 

 cumstances that the writer was not able to visit Olivier's Hoi-k. 

 as Avas his intention, before the preparation of this ])aper. 



It is hojied that, Ijy collecting detail- data for numerous lo- 

 calities in regard to the nature of and distribution (if the indi- 

 genous vegetation, it may lie jjossible, where human agenc\ is 

 not pronounced, definitely to establish the ]nnm whether, taken 

 as a wbole, the indigenous trees and shruljs show an aggressive 

 habit or a decadent one, or under what conditions of climate 

 and soil oljserved changes are taking place. 



Scientific Research in South Africa. — Refer- 

 ence wa.s made in the last volume"^ to a resolution of a conference 

 of scientific and technical societies, which led to the ai)]Jointment 

 of an Executive Committee consisting of T'rof. W. Buchanan. 

 M.I.E.E., W. A. Caldecott. B.A.. D.Sc, F.C.S., R. T. A. Innes. 

 F.R.A.S., F.R.S.E., C. D. Leslie (Chairman), and B. Price. 

 M.I.E.E., A.M.I.C.E. ^Jlie Minister of Mines and Industries has 

 appointed an Advisory Board of Industries and Commerce, con- 

 sisting of nine members, one being an elected representative of 

 the Industrial Research Committee of ilie Technical !^ocieties 

 (Prof. G. H. Stanley, A.K.S.M.. M.KM.l'... M.I.M.M.. IvI.C. ). 

 Tlie Advisorv Board has recently a])])ointed an Industrial Re- 

 search Committee of its own. consisting of Mr i{. Chappell, .*~^ir 

 Thomas Cullinan, and Prof. ( i. li. .Stanley. This Committee has 

 had a joint meeting with the I^xecutive Committee above re- 

 ferred to, on which occasion the l^xecutive Committee informed 

 the members of the Advisory Board Committee that it would 

 exjierience difhcultx- in rendering assistance until a ( "lovernment 

 organisation, witli machiner\- and means !'or researcli work was 

 established to make use of the information a\ailable and cH])able 

 of Cf)llection. The meeting was adjoiu'ned in order to afford 

 further o])portum't \" f(jr considering the matter. 



♦ Rf)>t. S..\. Assoc. Aflv. Sr. (101=;'. Pix'toria, (in. 



