490 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLIX. No. 1273 



Discussion as to where the institute could 

 most suitably be established has led to the 

 selection of Cambridge, for it is essential that 

 an institute of geodesy and geodynamics 

 should be associated with a great school of 

 mathematics and physics, and it is only in 

 connection with a great Imperial university 

 that that width and freshness of outlook are 

 to be sought which are essential to a progress- 

 ive and practical science. The committee has 

 evidence that an institute at Cambridge would 

 be cordially welcomed by the national survey 

 departments, both terrestrial and oceano- 

 graphic. 



It is estimated that an endovyment of £50,000 

 will be necessary if the proposed institute is 

 satisfactorily to perform the double task of 

 research and education, but it is hoped that if 

 half that sum were contributed by private 

 benefactions the remainder would be forth- 

 coming from national funds. An essential 

 part of the scheme would be the foundation 

 of a university professorship of geodynamics 

 to be held by the director of the institute. 

 To place this professorship in line with other 

 chairs recently endowed by private benefac- 

 tions and usually associated with the names 

 of the donors or founded as memorials of na- 

 tional sacrifice in the great war, a sum of 

 £20,000 (which is included in the £50,000 

 mentioned above) would be required. It is 

 certain that all who have to do with our 

 shipping interests or with aerial navigation 

 would ultimately profit from the establish- 

 ment of such an institute. 



THE CAWTHRON INSTITUTE 



A New Zealand correspondent sends infor- 

 mation to the effect that before the Parlia- 

 mentary Committee of Industries at Ifelson re- 

 cently Mr. T. A. H. Field, M.P., one of the 

 trustees of the Cawthron Institute, spoke con- 

 cerning the proposals of the trustees. He said 

 that during the war the trustees had 'been able 

 to do very little, but in that period they had in- 

 creased the income of the institute to £11,000 

 per annum, which would be spent in research 

 work. The trustees had also initiated certain 

 scholarships for scientific training which in 



seven years' time would he absorbing £1,100 

 per annum. 



In the course of his replies to questions, Mr. 

 Field said: The Board of Science and Indus- 

 try, recommended by the New Zealand Insti- 

 tute and strongly backed by the National Effi- 

 ciency Board, would have a statutory grant and 

 therefore be free from ministerial interference. 

 This proposed board might assist the Cawthron 

 Institute with grants and subsidies in those 

 cases in which large scale experiments of an 

 expensive type had to be undertaken. The idea 

 of the Board of Science and Industry was to 

 subsidize liberally aE research work in New 

 Zealand, whether carried out in government 

 laboratories, university colleges, research in- 

 stitutes, or by private individuals. The money 

 would be paid by direct grants or in the form 

 of fellowships or scholarships to be held at 

 specified institutions for special purposes. As 

 to the financial position of the Cawthron Insti- 

 tute, the cash invested amounted to £213,000, 

 besides which there is land at Annesbrook 

 valued at £5,075, and observatory lands valued 

 at £500. The trustees aim at keeping the capi- 

 tal at £200,000, and paying for buildings, 

 equipment, etc., from income. It is proposed 

 to appoint at first a director, a chemist, and 

 then a plant pathologist and an orchardist, 

 and then increase in the direction that occa- 

 sion demands. 



, When the work of the institute is well under 

 way great help can be given to technical rural 

 education in the Nelson district by means of 

 lectures, demonstrations and scientific advice. 

 Courses of lectures could be arranged not only 

 in Nelson, but also in other centers. Practical 

 demonstrations would naturally be made on the 

 experimental grounds owned or controlled by 

 the Cawthron Institute in different parts of 

 the district. As fresh industries take root in 

 the district, it will be a natural function of 

 the institute to help in the establishment and 

 to foster the growth of these industries by 

 carrying out investigations that will assist in 

 their vigorous development. A sum of £12,000 

 to £15,000 should cover the cost of buildings 

 and equipment. It is proposed to have a large 

 and carefully selected library, which is one of 



