MR. DAVID H. GRAHAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 257, 30 October 1929, Page 8

MR. DAVID H. GRAHAM.

EXPERIENCED BIOLOGIST. APPOINTED TO PORTOBEXXO. HIS MOSQUITO RESEARCH WORK.' People who are interested in the extermination of Auckland's summer pest, the mosquito, will be sorry to hear that Mr. David H. Graham, who for three years has been research officer to the Auckland Mosquito Control Committee, is leaving Auckland, having just been appointed biologist to the Marine Biological Station at l'ortobello, Dunedin. He takes up his new duties on January 1. During the three years lie has been in Auckland he has worked out the life history of the different kinds of mosquitoes with which we are plagued, his investigations extending from Auckland to Spirits Bay at the extreme end of the island. He identified each species, and bred out the various stages from the egg to the adult. He determined the

selective breeding grounds, and dissected eacli species, drawing each in twenty-five parts for reproduction in scientific journals—a work that had not previously been done in New Zealand.

Tlio6o who are aware of the vast amount of work done by Mr. Graham will regret that he will not be able to carry it further. It is understood that he has clear cut ideas a« to the comparative- ease of combating the mosquito pest round about Auckland. At the present time he is engaged in a treatise on how control coirld be effected, and it is to be hoped that some combined action will be taken when his report is completed. Mr. Graham contends that 00 per cent of Auckland's mosquitoes could be eliminated at a minimum cost. Residents and visiters would welcome anything that would rid the summer of s'lich a pest.

In liia new post at th# Government Marine Station at Portobcllo, Mr. Graham's duties will include studying the development and life history of the local fishes, their food supplies, etc., also of the marine vertebrate fauna; collcct and hatch out eggs, and distribute them; and introduce and rear desirable species of foreign lishes. Much valuable, work has been done at the station, which is conducted under the auspices of the Marine Board, of which the Hon. J. J3. Thompson is chairman.