EXPERT ON SHELLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 156, 3 July 1937, Page 7

EXPERT ON SHELLS.

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENT. COLLECTION" FOR MUSEUM. (By Telegraph.--Own Correspondent.) DUNEDIX, this day. A New Zealand Government appointment of considerable economic importance has been gained by Dr. H. J, Finlav, of Dunedin, who has established an enviable record in the field of scientific research. Dr. Finlay has been appointed to the jiosition of micropalaeontologist in the New Zealand Geological Survey Department in Wellington, under the Minister of Mines. This means for Dr. Finlay continual work with the microscope in the examination of very minute fossils in rock specimens brought in by geologists, this work being necessary' to determine the age of the sediments. His work will be confined chiefly to the group of primitive organism* called foraminifera. These are found in practically every marine sediment, often when no other fossils occur, and have been intensively studied in America in connection with oil fields for the past 10 years.

Dr. ]• inlay's qualifications for the position granted to him are indisputab!e. He is a Doctor of Science of the University of Xew Zealand, having entered the University of Otago in 1918, to gain his degree of Master of Science, with first-class honours in chemistry, three years later, and his D.Sc. for "research work and a thesis on Xew Zealand shells in 192*. Dr. 1* inlay's shell collection, which has been sold to the Aucklan 1 Museum, is the largest and most valuable that has yet been made in Xew Zealand. It was gathered by l)r. I-'iiilav through personal collecting throughout .sew Zealand anil by exchanges. A vUit to Australia in 1023 allowed him the opportunity to bring back the !:e~t collection of Australian fossil shells in the Dominion.

The collection sold to Auckland contains over 1.000.000 specimens, manv of which are unique.