DIRECTOR OF KEW.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 31, 7 February 1928, Page 16

DIRECTOR OF KEW.

DR. A. W. HILL IN AUCKLAND.

PUBLIC WELCOME EXTENDED. BOTANIST'S INTERESTING TALK. ILiiled by the Mayor as "one of the highest authorities in the branch of science with which he is connected," and acclaimed by the New Zealand botanist, Di. Cockayne, as "mv most distinguished contemporary who has attained to the highest position in the domain of pure and applied botany,"' Dr. A. W. Hill, director of the Royal' Botanic Cardens. Kew. was last evening in the University Hall accorded a most cordial weir,.lllo |,v the ~f A urv hi n< I. 1 racing the growth of the Kew Gar■b'lis, a ,lUtil;eily British •jruwt |i. Hill said they started when Princess •\ugusta, the mother of (leorge 111., 011 'he death of her husband, took to botany as a hobby in a small garden of about !•> acres, (.forge 111. 011 coming to the throne appointed ; ,s adviser for tin- care of that and Ihe adjoining garden of < leorge 11. Sir Joseph Banks, whose ":.".e Wflis k „,„ vll jn Xow Xo . l)nn(I To-day the Kew Gardens comprised 300 • Hies, iuid it was interesting to reflect oil the important part they "had played 111 assisting the advance of botanic science throughout the Empire, and in many other parts of the world. Specimens bad been accumulated from the overseas Dominions, and the floras of nearly every part of the Empire had been written at Kew. Dr. Ilill paid a tribute to the work of New Zealand botanists, and as Dr. Cockayne had done earlier, made special mention of the great achievements of the late Mr. I. F. Cheeseman and the late Mr. Donald Petrie. One of the most valuable branches of work at Kew was that relating to research. Thev had between three and four million dried specimens of ldants from nil parts of the world, a library of thirty or forty thousand volumes, and an extensive museum. "I think T am safe in saying." remarked the speaker, "that our equipment enables us to solve any economic problem which may be submitted to us from the vegetable kingdom." Another way in which the Kew Gardens had been helpful was in the training of men for work in sister gardens overseas. He mentioned Mr. Tan nock superintendent of the Dunedin Botanic Garden*. Mr. Barnard, of Oamaru, Mr. McPhearson, of Tnvereargill, and several assistants, who had or were to receive training at Kew. The director of Kew Gardens was also alviscr to the Secretary fit State oil matters pertaining to botany and forestry. This was the'real reason for his present visit to distant parts of the Empire. The visit had been of very great value to him, and he would now be in a position to give sounder advice.

The gathering ne,or,led Dr. TTiII an enthusiastic vote of thanks for his vcrv interestinir jnldros?.