SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
LOCAL PRODUCTION OF POTASH. 
As mentioned in the first issue of the Journal, the Sulphide Cor- 
poration has been investigating the possible sources of potash in 
South Australia. They have produced a few tons, but on account 
of the low grade of the deposit, transport charges are heavy, and 
the prospects of producing potash at a price that will stand com- 
petition from the usual sources are not encouraging. From Tasmama 
we have received information that small quantities of potash are being 
produced at Pelican Island. The kelp, which occurs in extensive beds 
along the coast near Southport, is collected and crudely burnt, yielding 
weekly about one ton of potash (28 per cent. pure) from 380 tons of 
kelp, and valued at £30. With sufficient capital to provide for the 
installation of plant and machinery for gathering and drying the kelp, 
and the establishment of better methods of burning and extracting all 
the by-products from the ash, the local production should be successfully 
exploited. 
Reporting on the Bulladelah deposits in New South Wales, Mr. 
Carne, Government Geologist, states that the possibilities of the 
deposit could be extended by roasting and grinding the rejected 
“seconds,” and utilizing the product as a fertilizer. The Western 
Australian Mines Department is having some hundreds of tons of 
alunite conveyed from Kanowna to Kalgoorlie, where it is roasted, and 
is to be sold in that state to farmers. 
TRAMWAY RAIL CONFERENCE. 
_ Following upon the agreement arrived at for an Australian standard 
specification for railway rails and fish-plates, the Institute of Science 
and Industry convened a conference for the purpose of fixing an 
Australian standard specification for tramway rails and_fish-plates. 
The conference commenced on Monday, 4th August, and terminated on 
7th August, having arrived at mutually satisfactory conclusions. The 
profile of the rail, as was anticipated, occasioned long discussion, but 
a compromise was eventually effected. Professor Lyle again acted as 
chairman; others who were present being Messrs. Alex. Cameron (Chair- 
man of the newly-formed Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways 
Trust), G. R. Cowdery (Chief Engineer, New South Wales Govern- 
ment Tramways), W. G. T. Goodman (Chief Engineer, Municipal Tram- 
way Trust, Adelaide), P. J. Pringle (Chief Engineer, Ballarat and 
Bendigo Tramways), M. E. Kernot and E. Adderley (Victorian Rail- 
ways), H. J. Dix (Prahran and Malvern Tramway Trust), A. D. 
Murdoch (North Melbourne Electric Tramways), Struan Robertson 
(Hawthorn Tramways Trust), S. 'S. Jobbins (Geelong Tramways), and 
M. R. Westcott (Coburg Tramways). Representatives of Western Aus- 
tralia and Tasmania were unable to attend owing either to influenza or 
to the dislocation of steamer service. Mr. R. H. Rowe and Mr. Ballard 
represented the Broken Hill Proprietary Limited, and Mr. C. Hoskins’ 
represented G. & C. Hoskins Proprietary Limited. The work of these 
two conferences represents only a small portion of a large scheme of 
standardization which the Institute will undertake, and which, when 
completed, will enable Australia to maintain and develop her engineering 
and subsidiary industries. a 
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