FIRST PAN-PACIFIC SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE. 
First Pan-Pacific Scientific Conference, 
Honolulu. 
By H. C. RICHARDS, D.Sc., Professor of Geology and Mineralogy, 
University of Queensland. 
The First Pan-Pacifie Scientific Conference, which was held in 
- Honolulu from 2nd August to 20th August, 1920, dealt with so many 
scientific problems of interest to Australia that it is highly desirable 
that people in this country, and scientists in particular, should be 
acquainted with the nature of the Conference, the matters which were 
discussed, the proposals for the permanent establishment of the 
Conference, and the suggested means and methods of carrying out the 
proposed research. ‘ 
The underlying idea of the Conference was to bring together in some 
central position scientific workers representative of the different sciences 
and the different countries bordering on or contained within the Pacific 
“Ocean region, with a view to considering what scientific problems await 
investigation, what their bearing and importance may be, and the best 
ineans of achieving their solution. 
The general preliminary arrangements were made by a committee 
of the members of the Pan-Pacific Union resident in the Hawaiian 
Territory, while the chairman of the Conference was H. E. Gregory, 
Ph.D., Professor of Geology in the University of Yale and Director of . 
the Bernice Pauahi Museum, Honolulu, and the vice-chairman and 
secretary, Arthur L. Dean, Ph.D., President of the University of 
Hawaii. _ ee 
Invitations to attend the Conference were extended to well-known 
scientific workers and to the various scientific institutions bordering on 
the Pacifie Ocean. 
Approximately, 110 delegates attended, and included representatives 
of Australia, New Zealand, Philippine Islands, Japan, China, Hawaiian 
Islands, Canada, and the United States of America; representatives 
from the British and French Possessions in the Pacific were unable to 
attend. / 
An analysis on the basis of the country of the delegates attending 
‘shows that the great majority of members was composed of delegates 
from the Hawaiian Territory and the United States of America:— — 
' Hawaiian Territory .. Abr: .. 44 delegates 
United States of America a oi 48 3 
Australia ~ .. pfs aps 5s 6 * 
Philippine Islands .. of ae A i; 
Japan ae a E t " 
New Zealand 3 5 
Canada a 2 * 
South Sea Islands 2 " 
Great Britain Rah: dre = 1 ike 
China By eh is Rs Saas; 
111 
615 
