SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
Weights and 
Measures. 
Posidonia 
Fibre. 
Engineering 
Standardization. 
Road 
Construction. 
Grass Tree 
Resin. 
Utilization 
of Kelp. 
Mangrove 
Tanning. 
Sheep-fly 
Pest. 
The Water 
Hyacinth. 
Alunite. 
Paper 
Pulp. 
Steps are being taken with a view to securing univ 
formity in the regulations throughout the Common. 
wealth. This is essential for the development of local 
manufacture of weighing and measuring machines. 
A thorough investigation into the constitution and 
physical properties of this-fibre has been completed, 
This is a necessary preliminary to developing the com, 
mercial utilization of the fibre. 
Conferences have been held in each State, and tha 
cordial support of engineers and representative men 
throughout the Commonwealth has been accorded to 
the Institute’s scheme for the development of engineer- 
ing standardization. 
A large amount of information as to measures taken 
in other countries for the scientific control of road con- 
struction and maintenance has been obtained, and a 
committee is preparing a scheme for initiating experi- 
mental work in Australia. 
A fundamental investigation into the chemical con- 
stitution of Grass-tree resin has already resulted in the 
isolation of several new substances not previously 
known as a constituent of resin. 
Investigators in Tasmania have succeeded in manu- 
facturing a new product from kelp. It turns perfectly 
in the lathe, takes on high polish, and is suitable for 
making insulators, buttons, and various other articles. 
A process for getting rid of the objectionable colour 
in mangrove tanning has been worked out, and large 
scale experiments are now being carried out to test the 
process on an industrial basis. 
A new parasitic fly which destroys the pup of sheep- 
flies has been discovered in Queensland. Its life history 
is being worked out, and specimens have been sent to 
the National Museum, Washington, United States of 
America, for determination. 
Specimens of this river weed have been obtained and 
analyzed. The results show that the plant can be 
used as a source of potash. 
Methods for. obtaining potash-salts from various 
Australian deposits of alunite have been worked out. 
If certain important developments now proposed take 
place, potash from alunite will be available as a fertilizer 
to be used in the manufacture of artificial manures in 
Australia. 
A considerable number of Australian plants has been 
tested for their pulping qualities. In some cases the 
results are favorable, in others negative results were 
obtained. 
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