September 15, 1923] 



NA TURE 



399 



printed address was available as usual, but was given 

 as a discourse illustrated by lantern slides and models. 

 The address was broadcasted, and was reproduced 

 in another hall in the city at an overflow meeting : 

 being thus communicated to a wider audience than 

 has ever previously been the case. No better example 

 of the advancement of science in the Association 

 could be made. 



The Sectional programmes are extraordinarily full 

 and exhibit an increasing tendency towards afternoon 

 lectures as well as more numerous meetings on the 

 last morning, September 19. At the same time the 

 great increase in both general and sectional excursions 

 and visits to works is loading the programme to an 

 extent which must satisfy even the most thirsty for 

 scientific knowledge. The Local Committee has spared 

 no trouble to make these excursions and visits to 

 works a success. There are about fifty-five of them, 

 and a brief account of what visitors can see in each is 

 contained in a dainty excursion guide, a copy of which 

 is given to each member. Apart from its utility at 

 the moment, this little book forms a useful companion 

 volume to the handbook " Merseyside." 



The scientific exhibition at the Central Technical 

 School, and the soiree at the University, represent 

 together a great development of the small sectional 

 and other exhibits which have been a feature of many 

 meetings. They attempt to show all that is latest 

 in science, in apparatus, experiment, etc., and at the 

 same time, through lecturettes and cinema exhibitions, 

 to present much new matter in a form of more general 

 interest than papers in the Sections addressed to 

 [)ecialists only. While the latter arouse the interest 

 of the philosopher, the former seek to promote general 

 interest in science and its application. The organisa- 

 tion of this exhibition and soiree has represented an 

 enormous amount of work. 



It had originally been decided to have no arrange- 

 ments for the evening of Monday, September 17, but 

 it was felt that many visiting members would like 

 some recreation, so the Local Committee has taken 

 several hundred seats at the Playhouse, when the 

 Liverpool Repertory Theatre Co. will present two 

 [jlays. Application for tickets, which will be free, 



must be made in the Reception Room, and seats will 

 be allocated in order of application. 



On Sunday morning, September 16, special services 

 will be held in many places of worship, and Canon 

 Barnes will preach and the Lord Mayor attend in 

 state the service at the Lady Chapel of the Liverpool 

 Cathedral. In the afternoon of the same day there will 

 be an organ recital in the Great Hall at St. George's 

 Hall. 



An outstanding feature of the meeting is the number 

 of foreign and colonial visitors. Representative men 

 of science from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, 

 Switzerland, France, Italy, Hungary, United States 

 and Canada are present, as well as a representative 

 from India. 



This reunion of scientific workers from so many 

 parts of the globe cannot but be to the advantage 

 of science as a whole, and indirectly help the inter- 

 national nature of science. There seems something 

 peculiarly suitable that such a notable gathering 

 should be held in Liverpool, our most cosmopolitan 

 city and port. 



Probably for the first time in its history the housing 

 question has directly touched the Association. The 

 question of accommodation has been a very difficult 

 one for the Local Committee, as at the present time 

 there are practically no vacant rooms even in so large 

 a city. Fortunately Southport, which is quite near, 

 and has an excellent train service to Liverpool, possesses 

 several excellent hotels, and weekly railway tickets at 

 reduced fares are available. 



Though most of the Sectional meetings are being 

 held in the University Buildings, Sections E, F, and 

 H meet in the city in the near neighbourhood of the 

 Reception Room. For the general convenience of 

 members, lunch is provided in the Students' Union 

 and in a marquee at the University, and also in St. 

 George's Hall alongside and opening out of the Re- 

 ception Room. 



Through the kindness of the Tramways Committee 

 of the Corporation members are allowed to travel free 

 on tramcars on showing their Association badge. 



The members attending the meeting are thus enjoy- 

 ing a busy and profitable week. Alfred Holt. 



The Japanese Earthquake of September i. 



Bv Dr. Charles Davison. 



SINCE November 4, 1854, the Empire of Japan has 

 experienced no earthquake, not even in i89i,that 

 can be compared in strength and destructiveness with 

 that which occurred about noon on September i. 

 Semi-destructive shocks, or shocks capable of throwing 

 down chimneys and stone-lamps, are not uncommon 

 in the district round Tokyo and Yokohama, the most 

 notable during recent years being those of February 22, 

 1880, June 20, 1894, December 8, 1921, and April 26, 

 1922. The first of these shocks is of interest as it led 

 to an event in the history of seismology, the foundation 

 by Prof. Milne of the Seismological Society of Japan, 

 liut the continued existence of the capital and seaport 

 points to their long-standing immunity from destructive 

 earthquakes, though, as they lie close to a well-known 

 seismic zone, it may be for that very reason that this 



last great movement occurred in their immediate 

 neighbourhood. 



How great the disaster is we do not yet know. As 

 usual in an earthquake of this magnitude, railway-lines 

 are crumpled, telegraphs and telephones are destroyed, 

 and our chief news comes, for the first time on such an 

 occasion, by wireless. It is uncertain, too, how much 

 of the destruction was due directly to the earthquake, 

 how much to the fires that broke out immediately and 

 spread at first unchecked owing to the derangement of 

 the water-mains, and how much to the sea- waves that 

 followed. In Yokohama, the earthquake was mainly 

 responsible, for it left little standing for fires to work 

 upon. In Tokyo, not a house is undamaged, and about 

 two-thirds of the city — including, it is reported, the 

 Imperial University, the Imperial Museum, and the 



NO. 



281 I, VOL. 112] 



