June io, 1909] 



NATURE 



433 



across the river. A daily paper, tlie Manitoba Free 

 Press, had, however, been in existence for about five 

 years. The Great West was unpopulated ; and local 

 troubles with the natives were concurrent with Cete- 

 wayo's disturbances in Zululand. 



After the meeting in Montreal in :8S4 — twenty-five 

 years ago — several members of the association went 

 out West and caught a glimpse of Winnipeg ; some 

 of these have described their impressions of the Win- 

 nipeg of that date. The chief of these seem to be the 

 wide Main Street, in the centre of it the rails of the 

 one-horse tramcars, with a lateral ocean of black 

 inud, in which it was no uncommon sight to see 

 derelict vehicles of every description. Quite different 

 will be the experience of the visitors next August. 

 The width of Main Street, Portage Avenue, and 

 Broadway will present itself as the most striking 

 feature, with their fine asphalt roadways and grano- 

 lithic " side-walks." The buildings will be found of 

 the most modern type, and many may lay claim to 

 considerable architectural excellence. The Bank 

 buildings, railway termini, and Government offices 

 will be especially noticeable in this respect. There is 

 no need, however, in this place to enter into details 

 about the city, as these will be fully dealt with in the 

 handbook supplied to visitors on arrival. 



The rate of progress in Winnipeg is too well known 

 to need emphasis. The writer has noticed wonderful 

 changes within even the past fi\-e years. The railway 

 stations, principal hotel, largest business blocks, and 

 the new theatre have all sprung up within this period. 

 The following illustrates the attitude of mind of the 

 enthusiastic " Winnipegger." A conversation was 

 •overheard on a train going east; a typical Winnipeg- 

 ger asked a returning tourist the inevitable question. 

 " What do you think of our city? " " Not much of 

 a place; saw it all in ten minutes! " " When did you 

 see it? " " Two weeks ago." " .\h ! but 30U should 

 see it now ! " 



The invitation to meet at Winnipeg originated with 

 the Roval Society of Canada, which considered that 

 as previous meetings of the association had been 

 successfully held in Montreal and Toronto, the third 

 meeting in Canada might appropriately be held in 

 the Prairie City. .-\ committee of the Royal Society 

 of Canada was appointed to approach the council of 

 the City of Winnipeg, and to urge upon it the 

 advisability of issuing an invitation to the British 

 Association. The city, acting upon this suggestion, 

 forwarded an invitation to the association at its 

 meeting in South Africa, that it should meet in Win- 

 nipeg in 1907. This invitation was supported by the 

 faculty of science of the University of Manitoba and 

 by the Manitoba Historical Society. The council of 

 the association, realising the difficulty of meeting 

 overseas so soon after the South .'\frican meeting, 

 felt bound to refuse the invitation for the year 1907, 

 but intimated that if the offer were renewed for a 

 subsequent year it would be favourably considered. 

 The City of Winnipeg accordingly issued a renewed 

 invitation to meet there in 1909, and a deputation con- 

 sisting of the Rev. Dr. Bryce, Prof. M. A. Parker, 

 and Prof. Swale Vincent interviewed the officers of 

 the association, and, in addition, Profs. Parker and 

 Vincent attended the York meeting and supported 

 the invitation. At that meeting the offer was defi- 

 nitely accepted. Previously, the Dominion Govern- 

 ment had promised generous financial support, and 

 the fund now at the disposal of the executive com- 

 mittee at Winnipeg amounts to about io,oooi. In 

 addition to the Dominion Government grant of 5000Z., 

 the Province of IVIanitoba has appropriated 2000L, the 

 City of \A'innipeg 1000/., and the western provinces 

 and cities have undertaken to bear the expense of the 

 NO. 2067, VOL. 80] 



western excursion of office bearers and distinguished 

 guests. 



.^t a public meeting held in March, 1907, a large 

 and representative local general committee was ap- 

 pointed, and the executive committee and the usual 

 subcommittees were elected. The local arrangements 

 are now well in hand. The four local secretaries are 

 Mr. C. N. Bell, Mr. W. Sanford Evans (Mayor), Prof. 

 M. A. Parker, and Prof. Swale Vincent, the local 

 treasurer being Mr. John .'Xird, manager of the Bank 

 of Commerce. The office of the local secretaries has 

 been installed in the University of Manitoba. 



.Arrangements have been made with the Canadian 

 railways by which members of the association can 

 obtain return tickets to Winnipeg from the port of 

 landing at single fares, and the same terms are also 

 available for extended trips ; some concessions have 

 also been obtained from the steamship companies. 



Much interest in the meeting has already been mani- 

 fested in Canada and the United States, as well as 

 in Great Britain, and it may reasonably be e.xpected 

 that a large number of men of science from both 

 sides of the Atlantic will take advantage of the meet- 

 ing — not only because of their interest in science, but 

 in order to obtain a glimpse of the great Canadian 

 West, and to meet its people. 



Invitations to attend the meeting are being sent to 

 the leading men of science on the continents of Europe 

 and America. The attendance of a large number nf 

 men of science from the United States, and of dis- 

 tinguished foreigners, will go far to impart an inter- 

 national character to the gathering, and will give a 

 special value and interest to many of the discussions. 



The last week of August is perhaps the most favour- 

 able time at which to make a visit to Winnipeg and 

 the Canadian West. The climate at this season is 

 delightful — warm days and cool nights. In the city 

 everything is looking at its best, and in the country 

 the harvesting operations are in full progress. 



By the kindness of the Provincial Government, the De- 

 partment of Militia and Defence, and various boards, 

 permission has been granted for the use of the follow- 

 ing buildings, which will be used as meeting places : — 

 the Legislative Chamber in the Parliament Buildings, 

 the Drill Hall, the University of Manitoba, Manitoba 

 and ^^'esley Colleges, the Ale.xandra, Carlton, and 

 Isbister Schools. - - 



One of the finest playhouses on the continent 

 of -America, the Walker : Theatre, has been en- 

 gaged for five evenings for the president's address, 

 the evening discourses, and the popular lectures. 

 Sir J. J. Thomson will give his address there on 

 \\'ednesday, August 25. On August 26, Dr. A. E. H. 

 Tutton, F.R.S., will discourse on " The Seven Styles 

 of Crystal Architecture "; on August 31, Prof. W. A. 

 Herdman, F.R.S., will lecture on " Our Food from 

 the Waters"; Prof. Harold B. Di.xon, F.R.S., will 

 deal with " The Chemistry of Flame " on August 30; 

 and Prof. J. H. Poyn'ting, F.R.S., with "The 

 Pressure of Light," on .September i. 



Winnipeg is noted throughout the Dominion for its 

 hospitality ; the work of the hospitality committee is 

 in full swing, and visitors may be assured of a hearty 

 welcome. 



THE DARWIN CEXTENARY CELEBRATION. 

 pHARLES ROBERT DARWIN was born on 

 ^^-' February 12, 1809, the same day that .Abraham 

 Lincoln first saw the light. The anniversary of this 

 day was celebrated by many gatherings and 

 " recitations " in North America, and it is a marked 

 sign of the times that these celebrations were in most 

 cases held in the churches and chapels of the numerous 



