Science.

THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE. The Council of the Indian Institute of Science say in the course of their last report that the Department of Electro-Technology has continued its work of affording high grade training to students who had qualified before admission to take full advantage of such training. The research work of the professor was necessarily much curtailed by the amount of time he was obliged to devote to administrative detail while officiating as director. As far as possible arrangements are made whereby students spend either a portion or the whole of the long vacation in some engineering works or generating station, so as to enable them to acquire practical experience and come into close touch with the ordinary routine of a workshop or power-station.

The chemical departments do not provide any regular courses for students, as general teaching of the highest character is already obtainable at several colleges in various parts of the country. The aim is to secure those anxious to carry on research or other special work and to render each one all possible assistance. The Council hope that local governments and other authorities will take advantage of the special facilities offered by the Institute and depute persons qualified to undertake scientific research bearing upon industrial problems to work in the laboratories.

The most important work during the course of the

year has been that in connection with the manufacture of sandalwood oil which, when undertaken on an experimental commercial scale, presented several unexpected problems. Dr. Sudborough and Dr. Watson have been appointed consulting chemists to the factory now being established by the Mysore Government. The attempt of the Council referred to in the last report to secure a professor of applied

also be a direc

should chemistry, who tor of the Institute, was in consonance with their view of the immense importance of this Department. This is the department which is termed that of "applied chemistry," but much of the work that may be carried on in a department of general and organic chemistry will also be capable of application, and the Council anticipate full cooperation between these departments. It has been suggested to the Council by Mr. B. J. Padsha that a department of metallurgy, working in cooperation with the iron and steel works at Sakchi, would be a useful development, and it was resolved to discuss the matter with the Government metallurgical inspector at Sakchi, provided that the necessary funds are placed at the disposal of the Council for the endowment of an assistant professor and the equipment of a suitable laboratory. -Times of India.

MOTOR-CAR WITHOUT WHEELS.

With respect to the world of invention generally, some devices of a striking character have made their appearances during the year. For instance,

a motor car without wheels is undoubtedly a singular contrivance. This extraordinary vehicle has been specially designed for passing over rough ground and climbing steep hills. Instead of wheels, the car has two parallel pairs of runners, resembling those on sledges, except that they are movable. As soon as the car is started, one pair is raised, moved forward, set on the ground, and these movements are imitated by the succeeding runners. The car always rests on two pairs, and by means of the forward motion of the runners, also 'moves forward. On an inclined plane at an angle of 45 degrees, the new vehicle climbs to the top and descends on the other side. For transport purpose, especially in warfare, this invention should prove a valuable acquisition.

Personal.

THE LATE ADMIRAL KAMIMURA.

The death reported recently of Admiral Kamimura of Japan removes a remarkable personality who was deservedly held in very high esteem by his countrymen. He was a distinguished sailor and as such fought gallantly on

ADMIRAL KAMIMURA.

several occasions on behalf of his country against the latter's enemies. Not only that but he took a prominent part in the evolution of modern Japan, and thus his death is a severe loss to that country. One noteworthy fact in connection with the deceased Admiral was that he received his naval training entirely in his native country. Not only that but he was the foremost of all those who received such training.

MR. NAOROJI'S GRANDSON.

Mr. Dadabhai Naoroji has received good news of his grandson Kersasji Ardesir Dadabhai Naoroji, who was recently wounded in France. He was an undergraduate at Christ's College, Cambridge, when the war began and enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment going to France with it as Lance Corporal. Nine months ago he was wounded in a charge. He is now in hospital in Cheshire and doing well.

DEATH OF THE HON. MR. DAJI ABAJI KHARE.

We regret to announce the death of the Hon. Mr. Daji Abaji Khare, on the 22nd August last, at his residence in Belasis Road, Bombay, from a stroke of paralysis. Mr. Khare was a leading Vakil of the High Court and a well-known Congressman having for many years served as its secretary. He presided over the Bombay Provincial Conference held at Dharwar 13 years ago and was a Vice-Chairman of the Reception Commit tee of the Indian National Congress in Bombay last winter, and in the latter capacity worked stre uously for the success of the gathering. Although Mr. Khare belonged to the moderate party of he Congress, he was a lifelong friend of Mr. B. G. Tilak and as such took prominent part in defending the cases against Mr. Tilak. At the last Bombay Council elections he was returned by the Municipalities of the Central Division. Just a month ago Mr. Khare was seized by a stroke of paralysis from which he did not recover. Although he was progressing favourably for a time, he breathed his last unexpectedly. By his death Bombay loses a stalwart patriot and a champion of popular causes. The funeral which took place was largely attended by respresentatives of all communities.

HINDENBURG'S APPOINTMENT.

The opinion is expressed in some of the Dutch papers that the Kaiser sacrificed Falkenhayn in order to allay popular indignation against the Crown Prince and Falkenhayn who supported instead of preventing the Prince's blunders. Experts are of opinion that Hindenburg's appointment is a confession of failure on the part of Germany. He was probably chosen in the hope that his prestige would make the German people acquiesce in the decision to shorten fronts in France and Flanders with a view to concentrating energies and saving communications with Constantinople. It is pointed out that this may mean the reverse of shortening the war.

Political.

THE MADRAS HOME RULE LEAGUE.

DRAFT ORGANISATION.

Object. To secure Home Rule for India through all law-abiding and constitutional activity.

Membership.-Membership is open to all men and women over 18 years of age, who accept the above object.

School students are not admitted to membership but under-graduates may become Associates for purposes of study, etc.

On ceasing to be under-graduates, Associates may, without further fee, become full Members. Subscription.-Every Member and Associate pays Re. 1 as admission fee to the League, the amount of annual subscription, if any, being determined by and payable to the Branch to which the Member or Associate belongs.

Organisation.-Sympathisers with the object of the League in any town or village should meet together to make application to their Provincial Secretary or District Secretary, when the latter is appointed for the establishment of a Branch in the r locality; those who are not yet members of the League sending Re. 1 as admission fee together with a written application for membership.

HOME RULE FOR INDIA.

The Herald (London) announces that the Home Rule for India League (British Auxiliary) has now been definitely organised. Among those who have joined are: Mr. and Mrs. Snowden, Mrs. Despard, Mr. H. W. Nevinson, Mr. Charles Roden Buxton, Mr. Robert Smillio (President of the General Federation of Trades Unions), Mr. George Lansbury and Mr. Laurence Housman. It is not proposed to carry on active propaganda during the war, but simply to prepare the organisation for active work when peace is declared,

THE DESTINY OF THE EMPIRE.

When Mr. Hughes, the Australian Premier, was presented with the Freedom of the City of London, he drew attention to the magnificent resources of the British Empire and said:

Look at the great Dominions of Canada, Australia and South Africa. Australia and Canada are both larger than the United States of America. South Africa is larger than France and Germany combined. Is it not as clear as noonday that in unity is our strength and our safety, and that we must create an environment which will breed a virile people. Largeness of wealth will not save us if our crop of men should fail. We must see to it, therefore, that from one end of this great Empire to the other, the gates of opportunity shall be slammed in no man's face; there must be a chance for everyone. I have profound faith in the destiny of the British race.

THE INDIAN PROBLEM.

The Times of India has the following:"Let there be no paltering with the Indian problem. We could no more arrest-if we would -the intellectual forces we have unloosed in India than we could make the sun and the moon stand

still; none but the purblind would wish so to do. We have planted in this country the divine seed of life; we must see that it has room for the spreading branches to grow. We have learnt anew from this War the supreme importance of the ethical principles in human government, and the sure destruction which must inevitably overtake any administration, no matter how scientific and efficient, that is divorced from the moral law. The British connection with India must of necessity be a progressive force; if ever it became a hampering influence, then we could place a limit to its life. The adaptation of this connection to the growing political life of India, without impairing the efficiency of the one or retarding the development of the other, is the question of the hour; if we can solve it, and it can be solved, then we shall have won the greatest glory ever conferred on an Imperial system."

General.

DR. MACKICHAN ON INDIA AND THE WAR.

In the course of his address at the Convocation Meeting of the Bombay University held last month, Dr. Mackichan, the Vice-Chancellor,

said:

It fills us with joy to see India ranging herself by our side in this confiict. The liberality of her princes, and the sacrifices which her sons have made, of strength and so often of life, to make victory speedier and more sure, —these have aroused a wonderful enthusiasm throughout the British Empire. But to my mind there is something more significant than all this aggregate of service and co-operation. I mean the intellectual and moral sympathy which this great crisis has called forth between India and the rest of the Empire. It is not knowledge which moves the world but spiritual ideals and moral convictions; and when Britain was moved, in response to the call of duty and honour and of humanity, to enter into this conflict, the uppermost thought in the minds of those who were concerned as to India's future was not, whether India would take her stand alongside Great Britain and her Allies on the stricken field, whether her Princes and Rulers would lay their treasures at the foot of the Emperor; but whether the heart of India would respond in inward appreciation and sympathy to the spirit in which our nation was entering on this world. conflict.

To those of us who have sought to understand the attitude of the enlightened classes of India in regard to this momentous struggle, it has brought unmingled gratification to find that the heart of India beats true, that to India also those ideals are precious, in the interest of which Britain and her Allies were impelled to enter on this war. These are ideals which India too regards as sacred, and she has taken her place in the front of battle in widely separated regions of the earth, not simply because her soldiers were called to the colours, but because India felt herself to be one with the whole Empire in those spiritual convictions which lay behind the movements of the armies and which inspired the stern resolve to conquer in this strife. Surely it is something which touches most intimately the life and spirit of our University that the issues which are now at stake should have come home to the mind of India with a clearness and a force similar to that with which they appealed to the heart of the whole Empire. The influences which radiate from our Universities may well be included among the things that have made it possible for India to reveal her true mind to the nations of the world.

MYSORE STATE AND INDUSTRIES.

The Mysore Durbar are about to send a deputation of commercial men to Japan to study Japanese industries with a view to their adoption in the Mysore State. Some merchants and a few officials will form the deputation. In British India, we have an Industrial Commission whose

work has not yet begun and which will only make recommendations. Professor C. J. Hamilton was sent to Japan by the Bengal Government.

HOW THE WORLD IS FED.

A study of how the world is fed reveals many interesting facts. Australia, the smallest of continents, for instance, is the largest meat eater of them all. Asia, the largest continent, on the other hand is the smallest meat-eater among them. Africa and South America lean towards vegetarianism, while Europe and North America are large consumers of meat and other animal products. . . . Taking the world's supply of cattle, hogs and sheep, it appears that mankind at large uses in the neighbourhood of twenty million tons of meat a year. This would be an average of about 39 pounds per capita throughout the world. In butcher's meat we find the Australian consumes 192 pounds; the American, 172 pounds; the Englishman, 119 pounds; the German, 113 pounds; the Frenchman and the Belgian, 80 pounds; the Austro-Hungarian, 64 pounds; the Russian, 50 pounds and the Spaniard,49 pounds.Harold J. Shepstone, in The Millgate Monthly.

THE EQUITIES OF GOD,

"Are not the following words of Dr. Martineau (in a review on the Ethics of Christendom) worthy of our careful consideration at the present time," asks Mr. W. M. Meredith in the Spectator.

"The reverence for human life is carried to an immoral idolatry when it is held more sacred than justice and right, and when the spectacle of blood becomes more horrible than the sight of desolating tyrannies and triumphant hypocrisies. . . . A religion which does not include the whole moral law; a moral law which does not embrace all the problems of a commonwealth; a commonwealth which regards the life of man more than the equities of God, appear to be unfaithful to their functions, and unworthy interpreters of the divine scheme of the world."