2$S 



NATUHE 



[October 27, 1921 



Prof. Soddy, and a similar amount is expected 

 annually. The Czech o-Slovakian Government retains 

 its proprietary rights in the radium, which is to be 

 returned at the termination of the agreement. By 

 this enterprise a close connection between this country 

 and the chief European source of radium has been 

 established which, it is to be anticipated, will prove 

 ultimately of advantage to workers in this subject. 



The first annual report of the Electricity Commis- 

 sioners (H.M. Stationery Office, price 35. net) is of 

 interest. It shows clearly that although improvements 

 in the existing conditions of electric power supply 

 cannot be realised as rapidly as was anticipated when 

 the Act of 1919 was passed, yet substantial progress 

 has been made in securing the co-operation and agree- 

 ment of the authorities in particular districts. It is 

 not a problem of starting ah initio to develop a com- 

 prehensive and standardised system of distribution in 

 the light of our present-day knowledge and technical 

 practice. There exist many heterogeneous systems of 

 supply which have to be adapted, modified, and ex- 

 panded to meet the growing needs of the community. 

 The present financial stress has also proved a barrier 

 io rapid developments. The standardisation of 50 

 as the frequency of supply proved impracticable, and 

 so the subsidiary frequencies of 40 and 25 had to 

 be permitted. It is satisfactory to note that the 

 Commissioners have approved in several cases of very 

 high voltages for the transmission of power. In 

 Northumberland and Durham, for instance, the elec- 

 tric energy will be distributed from the main generat- 

 ing stations to the sub-stations at a pressure of 66,000 

 volts. From Woolwich to .Erith the pressure of 

 transmission will be 33,000 volts. Wifh these high 

 voltages appreciable economies can be effected. The 

 Commissioners have now come to a stage in their 

 proceedings where their decisions will affect adversely 

 many interests, but luckily they have secured the 

 universal esteem of the profession 



The Geographical Society of Paris celebrated its 

 centenary in July last. Having been founded in 182 1, 

 it is the oldest geographical society in the world, and 

 nine years senior to the Royal Geographical Society. 

 In commemoration of the event the society has 

 devoted an enlarged number of La Gio graphic (July- 

 August) to a history of the society and a record of the 

 centenary celebrations. From the year of its founda- 

 tion, under the presidency of the Marquis de Laplace, 

 the society has grown in usefulness and influence. 

 An outgrowth of the society in 1870 was the founda- 

 tion of the numerous French provincial geographical 

 societies, which now number more than twenty, while 

 the growing overseas interests of France led in 1876 

 to one branch of the society becoming the Soci6t6 de 

 Geographic commerciale with an independent 

 organisation. The International Geographical Con- 

 gresses which met from time to time before the 

 recent war were inaugurated by the society at 

 Paris in 187 1, and Paris was again the meeting-place 

 in 1875 and 1889. From 1822 the society has pub- 

 lished its Bulletin, now known as La Geographic, 

 which has always been particularly rich in African 



NO. 2713, VOL. 108] 



travel. In addition, it has from time to time pub- 

 lished a large number of separate geographical works. 

 The centenary celebrations included a reception by 

 the president of the society. Prince Roland Bona- 

 parte ; a meeting presided over by President Millerand, 

 at which addresses were presented by various geo- 

 graphical societies, including the Royal Geographical 

 Society, represented bv Sir F. Younghusband ; visits 

 to the Bibliotheque nationale and the Service hydro- 

 graphique de la Marine ; an afternoon municipal 

 reception at the Hotel de Ville : and the concluding 

 banquet. 



The annual general meeting of the Chaldaean 

 Society was held at the Great Northern Hotel, King's 

 Cross, on Saturday, October 15. The president, Mr. 

 J. Hargreaves, in reviewing the work of the year and 

 the progress of the society, stated that there were 

 now seven local sections, as against two last year. 

 The first of these sections to be formed, at Luton, 

 had had a very busy season, while those at Letch- 

 worth and Ipswich were now well established. The 

 two London sections, north and south, in spite of the 

 large population, or rather because of it, still found 

 it difficult to carry out satisfactory astronomical work. 

 In this sense their record was comparatively dis- 

 appointing. The Rev. D. R. Fotheringham, editor of 

 The Chaldaean, advised the society to pay special 

 attention to naked-eye work. He suggested that 

 members should watch for and record specially : — 

 (i) The first appearance of planets after conjunction 

 with the sun ; (2) every appearance of Mercury ; 

 (3) any appearance of Vesta, other minor planets, 

 naked-eye comets, or L'ranus ; (4) observations of 

 naked-eye variable stars like Mira Ceti or Algol; 

 (5) haloes ; and (6), for those with keen sight, the 

 careful mapping of the Milky Way. The 192 1 eclipse 

 report was formally presented to the meeting. De- 

 tailed accounts were submitted from Lochmaddy and 

 Thurso, whence the eclipse had been seen in its 

 annular form, and tabulated reports were presented 

 from fifty-six other stations, embodying temperature 

 records, appearance of stars, effect on animals, etc. 

 A discussion followed on the relationship of 

 local sections and the central body of the societ}'. 

 The fo lowing were elected olificers for the year : — 

 President: Mr. J. Hargreaves. Secretary : Mr. E. W. 

 Foster. Treasurer: Dr. J. K. Fotheringham. 

 Librarian : Mr. G. S. Clark Maxwell. 



Paragr-Aphs have lately appeared in the daily Press 

 reporting the occurrence of oil in a ' water well at 

 Bosham, near Chichester, Sussex, and in particular 

 the West Sussex Gazette of October 13 gave an 

 account of the visit of an inspector from the Petroleum 

 Department to this well. The facts briefly are as 

 follows :— The well is situated in the garden of Mr. 

 H. Richardson, of Bosham. Recently a clear oil was 

 noticed on the surface of the water, and it is reported 

 that no less than 100 gallons of "almost pure 

 paraflFin " were later obtained. The inspector ap- 

 parently did not commit himself as to whether the 

 oil was a natural or fortuitous occurrence, but 

 the idea that this is indeed a natural oil has gained 



