414 
NATURE 
[June 20, 1912 
this coast-line. That the temperature fell rapidly 
within five miles of both places is similar to the 
Labrador coast results. The results for the Fastnet 
are not so marked as for Lundy Island, but the ship 
passed the former place at a greater distance. 
A solution of the iceberg problem seems near at 
hand, but the greater value of a means of locating 
land cannot be overlooked. 
An exceedingly sensitive self-recording instrument 
such as the micro-thermometer is essential for the 
work described. The conflicting experiences of North 
Atlantic sea captains alone testify to the uselessness 
of individual observations. It is to a knowledge of 
the rate and characteristic of ‘the temperaiure varia- 
tion in the sea, rather than to the actual temperature 
itself, that we must look for means by which the 
safety of navigation may be increased. 
UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 
INTELLIGENCE. 
CaMmBrIDGE.—The death of the master of Gonville 
and Caius College removes from Cambridge Univer- 
sity one of its most loyal and hard-working members. 
He obtained his degree in the first class in the Class- 
ical Tripos forty-three years ago. He was elected to 
a fellowship at his college in 1870, and since then had 
devoted himself whole-heartedly to its interests and 
to those of the University. Mr. Roberts was for some 
time University lecturer in comparative philology, and 
his “Introduction to Greek Epigraphy”’ is a standard 
work on the history of the Greek alphabet. He 
always took the greatest interest in promoting new 
subjects of study, and played a prominent part in the 
establishment of the teaching of forestry, and in the 
development of modern languages. He was also a 
most active member of the board of the Cambridge 
Association, and of the Appointments Board, where 
his wide and minute knowledge of the outer world 
were of the greatest importance. Cambridge and 
Caius have indeed lost one who served them well. 
OxrorD.—It is the opinion of many resident mem- 
bers of the, University that reforms on the plan 
initiated by Lord Curzon as Chancellor some two or 
three years ago have either not proceeded fast 
enough, or have not taken the right direction. These 
views have found expression in a memorial addressed 
to Lord Curzon in favour of the appointment of a 
commission to inquire into changes that may be desir- 
able in regard to the constitution and legislative 
machinery of the University, and the administration 
of the resources of the University and the colleges. 
The answer received from the Chancellor shows that 
he is to some extent in sympathy with the views and 
aims of the memorialists. At the same time, he 
makes it clear that he would regard the demand for 
a commission at the present time as inopportune, and 
that he would himself withhold his support from a 
movement for its appointment. 
On June 18 Convocation passed a decree authoris- 
ing the Vice-Chancellor to apply, on behalf of the 
University, to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries 
for a grant of 3001. a year for the expenses of agri- 
cultural research relating to the soils of Oxfordshire 
and parts of the adjacent counties, to be conducted 
in the School of Rural Economy under the direction 
of the Sibthorpian professor (Prof. Somerville). On 
the same day a decree passed Congregation authoris- ; 
ing the Curators of the University Chest to receive 
from the Development Commissioners the sum of 
gool. to: be applied in aid of the investigations into 
the economics of agriculture, and to provide a sum of 
3001. a year for three years for the same purpose if 
the Development Commissioners shall in each of the | 
NO. 2225, VOL. 89] 
three years make a grant of not less than bool. 
towards the same object. In introducing this decree, 
the president of Magdalen announced that Mr. W. 
Morrison, of Balliol College, in addition to his other 
| benefactions, had promised 251. a year for three years 
towards this object, and that further contributions of 
a similar kind were expected. 
Lonpon.—At the meeting of the Senate on June 
12, Dr. W. P. Herringham was elected Vice-Chan- 
cellor for the year 1912-13, in succession to Sir 
William Collins. Dr. Herringham is a physician of 
St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, and is one of the repre- 
sentatives of .be faculty of medicine in the Senate. 
Dr. W. Il. iiccles has been appointed to the new 
University readership in graphics, tenable at Univer- 
sity College. 
Prof. J. Norman Collie, F.R.S., has been appointed 
director of the chemical laboratories at University 
College in succession to Sir William Ramsay. 
The degree of D.Sc. in chemistry has been granted 
to Rev. L. A. Levy, an external student, for a thesis 
entitled ‘‘Studies in Platinocyanides,’’ and other 
work. 
The late Lady Welby’s library has been presented 
to the University. 
A gift of rt4ool. a year for three years from Mr. 
Ratan Tata has been gratefully accepted for the 
“endowment of research into the principles and 
methods of preventing and relieving destitution and 
poverty.” 
SCARCELY a weelx passes without the announcement 
of a munificent gift for higher education in the 
United States. In the issue of Science for May 31 
last it is reported that Mr. Clarence H. Mackay and 
his mother have given 30,0001. to the University of 
Nevada, making their total gifts 80,o00l.; and that 
Allesheny Collere hag comonleted the raisins of 
$0,000l., thereby securing the 20,0001. conditional giit 
of the General Education Board. This makes the 
total productive endowment of the college 205,000l. 
President Crawford stated in his announcement on 
the completion of the fund that the immediate results 
would be the addition of two new assistant professors 
and several new instructors to the staff. 
A FRANCHISE and Registration Bill, which provides, 
among other matters, for the abolition of university 
constituencies, was introduced in the House of Com- 
mons on Monday by Mr. J. A. Pease, President of 
the Board of Education. There are at present three 
university constituencies in England, two in Scot- 
land, and one in Ireland, returning the following 
nine members to Parliament :—Oxford, Right Hon. 
Sir W. R. Anson, Bart., and Lord H. Cecil; -Cam- 
bridge, Mr. J. F. P. Rawlinson and Sir Joseph 
Larmor, F.R.S.; London, Sir Philip Magnus; Edin- 
burgh and St. Andrews, Right Hon. Sir R. B. Finlay, 
G.C.M.G.; Glasgow and Aberdeen, Sir Henry Crails, 
K.C.B.; Irish University, Right Hon. Sir E. H. 
Carson and Right Hon. J. H. M. Campbell. The 
number of university electors returning these nine 
representatives is 46,670, of whom about 20,000 return 
the five English university members, 21,000 the two 
Scottish members, and 5000 the two Irish members. 
It is proposed by the Bill that the university vote and 
representation shall cease, as being inconsistent with 
the principle of ‘‘one man, one vote.” 
In the House of Commons on June 12, Sir Philip 
Magnus asked the President of the Board of Educa- 
tion whether the Royal Charter granted to the Impe- 
rial College of Science and Technology imposed on 
| the governing body of the Collége an obligation to 
carry on the work of the Roval College of Science, 
London; and, if so, whether the obligation would be 
