11 



By electro-chemical means we now obtain calcium carbide, carborun- 

 dum, artificial graphite, caustic potash, nitrogenous fertilisers, and 

 nitrates for the manufacture of explosives. Indeed, electro-chemistry 

 piomises to revolutionise the manufacture of nearly all chemical pro- 

 ducts. 



Michael Faraday's researches on the liquefaction of gases, extended 

 notably by Andrews of Belfast, by Pictet, Cailletet, Joule, and Play- 

 fair, IJewar, Olzewski, and Kammerlink Onnes, led to the commercial 

 practice of gas liquefaction. To New Zealanders the history of gas 

 liquefaction should be of great interest, for our export trade is based 

 upon efficient cold storage, which in turn depends for its success upon 

 the economic liquefaction of ammonia and carbonic anhydride. 

 Faraday's researches in electro-magnetics paved the way to the 

 invention of the electric telegraph and telephone and to the produc- 

 tion and distribution of electric power. Clarke-Maxwell's investiga- 

 tions on oscillatory discharges first made known the probable 

 existence of electric waves. Their existence was shown to be a 

 reality by Hertz, after which wireless telegraphy became a com- 

 mercial success in the hands of Marconi. 



Not less remarkable are Pasteur's researches on micro-organisms. 

 Their results have been far-reaching. The application of aseptic 

 methods in surgery and the use of antitoxins in the treatment of 

 disease, though not due to Pasteur, are certainly based upon his 



discoveries. 



The investigations of Patrick Manson and Ronald Ross proved that 

 a special mosquito Anopheles is the carrier of malarial fever; and 

 the successful completion of the Panama Canal became possible only 

 after a decisive victory had been gained by Dr. W. C. Gorgas over 

 {mother type of mosquito Stegomyia fasciata found by Charles 

 Finlay to be the agent of infection in cases of yellow fever. 



Researches on the radiating power of the rare earths led to the 

 invention of the Welsbach mantle, which, with a consumption of one- 

 half of the quantity of gas, gives at least four times the quantity of 

 light yielded by the old flat flame gas burner. Parallel with this 

 reduction in the cost of gas lighting must be placed the development 

 of metallic filament lamps, which have rendered a like service to 

 electric lighting. 



There is indeed no class of industry and no art or profession which 

 has not benefited by the researches of scientific men ; nevertheless, it 

 must be admitted that the British have been slow to recognise the 

 national importance of science and the benefit to be derived from the 

 organised application of science to industry. The value to the 

 Enrnire at which the trained investigator is officially assessed is, I 

 think, fairly well represented by the action of the War Office, which 

 in the early stages of the war, advertised for skilled chemists at a 

 salary of 2 Os. 6d. a week, 







