EDITORIAL. 
potassium sulphate are fully described in Bulletin No. 3.’ | Should 
developments prove favorable, the Sulphide Corporation intends to 
send shipments to its works at Cockle Creek, New South Wales, where 
the potash salts will be separated. Potash will then be available as a 
fertilizer to be utilized in the manufacture of the Corporation’s artificial 
manures. 
SCIENTIFIC CONTROL OF ROADS. 
The Institute has given a considerable amount of attention to 
this matter, and has collected a large body of information as to 
measures taken in other countries for the scientific control of road ¢on- 
struction and maintenance, and for investigational work on road- 
making materials. A Committee consisting of Mr. W. Calder, M.I.C.E. 
(Chairman of the Victorian Country Roads Board), Mr. J. M. Coane 
(Consulting Engineer, Melbourne), Professor H. Payne (Melbourne 
University), and Mr. Gerald Lightfoot, M.A., has been appointed to 
prepare, for the consideration of the Executive-Committee, the outline 
of a scheme for initiating experimental work on the subject. It is 
proposed to send the report for the consideration of the: several State 
road authorities, motorists’ associations, and other bodies especially 
interested in good roads, with a view to obtaining their support—both 
financial and otherwise—in the movement. 
TESTING CLAYS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 
Important progress has been made by the Clay Committee which 
has been established in Perth. A large number of clays has been 
examined, and valuable assistance and advice has been given to persons 
actually engaged in the industry and to others who are desirous of 
developing deposits of clays. Washing tests, kiln test pieces, plasticity 
tests, and field examinations have been made. A large amount of 
successful work has been done in preparing and burning colourless 
glazes from local materials and in the manufacture of firebrick of the 
highest quality and of a good scorifier. A number of felspars, kaolins, 
and quartz have been investigated. Shrinkages and porosities have 
been calculated. Experimental porcelains have been made and cups, 
saucers, and lavatory basins have been manufactured from local clays 
with considerable success. As regards assistance to persons engaged 
in industry, the following examples may be given to illustrate the prac- 
tical results already obtained from the investigations :— 
(a) A cement company has been enabled to locate a clay suit- 
able and conveniently situated for use in making Port- 
land cement. 
(b) A porcelain company in the eastern States has been put in 
touch with local sources of felspar much freer from iron 
than any at present available in the eastern parts of Aus- 
tralia. 
(c) A large amount of technical information and advice has 
been given to the promoters of a new white-ware pottery 
to be established in Perth. 
(d) Tests have been made and advice given in connexion with 
fire-resisting material for a new local glass works. 
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