714 NARRATIVE AND ITINERARY 
Table of Distances.—The following approximate figures may be of 
interest :— 
England [London] to :— Statute Miles. 
Adelaide via Suez (all sea) 12,740 
Do., overland to Mediterranean 11,700 
Adelaide via South Africa 13,895 
England [Liverpool] to :— 
Sydney via Vancouver 14,529 
Fremantle-Adelaide (sea) 1,356 
Adelaide-Melbourne (rail) 483 
Melbourne-Sydney (rail) 5824 
725 
Sydney-Brisbane (rail) : : 
The weather was fine practically finstahout the meeting. 
Noves on Screntiric Work IN AUSTRALIA. 
Throughout the sessions in the various centres, in addition to the 
official meetings and excursions, special meetings, discussions and 
expeditions, informal as well as formal, were arranged by local men of 
science for particular groups in the Overseas Party. On such occa- 
sions (among which may be included the visits paid to University 
laboratories, museums and other institutions by many of the party) 
problems for investigation were pointed out and plans for future 
research were suggested, of value to hosts and guests alike, and it is 
not improbable that some of these informal conferences may have as 
great a direct effect upon the advancement of Science in Australia as 
the more public Meetings of the Association. As the Report volume 
does not elsewhere offer any occasion to indicate the work done in these 
directions, a summary may be given here, with reference to the Sec- 
tions whose interests were specially concerned. The list of Research 
Committees appointed on the recommendation of the Committee of 
Recommendations meeting at Sydney will show that in many depart- 
ments of Science, under several Sections, important suggestions for 
research were given effect. 
In Section A, owing to the unfortunate absence through ill-health 
of the President, Professor Trouton, his address was read by Professor 
A. W. Porter. The attendance at the Sectional Meetings was good at 
both Melbourne and Sydney ; and specially large audiences gathered to 
hear the discussions on ‘Atoms and Molecules’ (jointly ° * with Sec- 
tion B: opened by Sir E. Rutherford, followed by Professors Pope, 
ous Kerr Grant, Hicks, and others, with Sir O. Lodge in the 
chair), on ‘ Antarctic Meteorology ’ (opened by Dr. Simpson, followed 
by Canta Davis, Mr. Gold, and others), and on ‘ Wireless Telegraphy ’ 
(opened by Sir O. Lodge). Sir E. Rutherford’s paper was also of 
special interest. A paper by Mr. Baracchi, Government Astronomer 
of Victoria, on the proposed site for a Solar Observatory on Mount 
Stromlo was of particular interest to the Astronomers, and the Prime 
Minister of the Commonwealth (Mr. Cook) received a deputation * of 
°'The Astronomer Royal, Professors ‘Turner, Eddington, Duffield, and 
Nicholson, Mr. C. G. Abbot, of Washington, Sir Oliver Lodge, introduced 
by Professor Masson. Mr. Deakin and Mr. Hunt, Government Meteorologist, 
were also present. 
