DR. J. A. THOMSON

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 106, 7 May 1928, Page 10

DR. J. A. THOMSON

Dr. .lames Allan Thomson, ALA., D.Sc, F.G.S., F.N.Z. Inst., Director of the Dominion Musouin, New Zealand's first Rhodes Scholar, died at his residence, Karori, yesterday afternoon, after a long illness. .He was in his forty-seventh vcar at (ho lime of his deatii. Tho late Dr. J. A. Thomson, who was a son of the lion. G. M. Thomson, M.L.C., was born at Dunedin, and was educated at the Otago Govs' High School and the Otago University. In addition to marked success in his studies,' he was a prominent athlete and Rugby footballer, being in the first fifteen of the college for some years. He graduated ALA. at St. John's College, Oxford. In lilOo he won :>. senior university scholarship, and the following year was awarded tho Rhodes Scholarship. In 11)00 ho won the lSurdelt Coutts and Exhibition Scholarships, and the following year was appointed demonstrator in geology at Oxford, subsequently becoming lecturer in that

S. I. Andrew', Tlioto.

subject at St. John's College. On his return to New Zealand, ho became first lecturer in geology at Victoria University College, Wellington. In 1011, Dr. Thomson was appointed palaeontologist to the New Zealand Geological Survey and in 1914 was selected for the position of Director of the, Dominion Museum. In geology Dr. Thomson made a special study of brachiopods, commonly known as lamp shells, and fortunately last year he had his great work "Brac-h----iopod Morphology" published by the j Board of Science and Art, as one of their manuals. He was one of thiy, original fellows of the New Zealand Institute, twenty of whom were appointed in 11J10. This is a great honour, as to be a fellow of the New Zealand Institute means that the appointee must have done work of such scientific importance that the scientific societies of the Dominion, as well as the New Zealand Institute itself, consider the holder worthy of the fellowship, and fellows in future appointed—-two being selected eai-h year—have to be nominated first by the scientific societies, Ihon chosen-by the fellows themselves, and finally by the Board of Governors. Jte was one of the four members of Ihe New Zealand Institute! appointed by the Government. 3u 192;! lie was awarded Hie llntlon medal by the New Zealand Institute for researches in geology and in IH-7 was awarded the Hector medal, .1 recognition of the value of his research :t the study of brachiopods. In tlanuary last he was elected president of the New Zealand Institute. Dr. Thomson was the author of numerous papers on geology, and natural history, also on proportional representation, on which subject he had a book' ready for the press at the- time 'f. his^death. The late Dr. Thomson leaves a son and a daughter, his ■wife having predeceased him.. The funeral, which will take place to-morrow, will bo private.