LONG LIFE ENDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 308, 29 December 1937, Page 3

LONG LIFE ENDS.

SIR A. P. W. THOMAS.

GREAT SCIENTIST.

PIONEER IN EDUCATION.

LEADER FOR HALF CENTURY,

One of Auckland's best known and most colourful personalities, Professor Sir Algernon Phillips Withiel Thomas, K.C.M.G., died at his home in Mountain Road la«t night. Thus ended a long life, the details of which will be indelibly etched on Auckland's tablet of cultural advancement. Sir Algernon's indefatigable work for the cause of oducation in the Dominion earned him a knighthood at the time of the Coronation of King George VI.

With Sir Algernon's passing closes a career governed by his own motto— "service"—and devoted to the betterment of educational conditions in the Dominion. Scholars at the Auckland Lniversity College, at the five grammar schools, educational, horticultural and scientific circles, as well as the general public, will have cause to remember the things Sir Algernon accomplished during more than half a'century of educational work in New Zealand.

Gifted, according to those who worked with him, with inexhaustible enthusiasm, rare teaching ability anil amazing powers of concentration, even at Bft years of ape he continued his work for educational causes. 111 his capacity as chairman of the Auckland Grammar School Board of Governors, he attended five pvizegiving ceremonies in two days a little over a week ago. At the Takapuna Grammar School he stumbled on an uneven platform and. it is believed, injured liis heart when attempting to regain his foothold.

Hon. P. Fraser's Tribute. "Professor Thomas was one of the foremost figures in the educational activities of the Dominion since his arrival as one of the four professors of the Auckland University College." said the Minister of Education, the Hon. F. Friiser, paying tribute to-day to Sir Algernon's life of service. "The value of his work as a scientist was acknowledged far beyond the boundaries of New Zealand.

"His great achievements as a university teacher and as a biologist, particularly his research work in botany, have been, to some extent, obscured in recent years by his important, constructive and valuable work, extending over so long a period as member and chairman of the Auckland Grammar School Board. But tens of thousands of farmers, horticulturists and soil cultivators generally in our own country and throughout the Pacific Islands are. more often than not quite unwittingly, reaping the beneficial results of his assiduous and faithful research work.

"Recommended by two of the greatest scientists. Professor Gcikic. the world famous geologist, and Professor Huxley, whose name was almost a household word at the time. Professor Thomas came to New Zealand bearing promise of great things educationally. Throughout the years these hopes have been far more than realised.

"I feel that 1 am voicing the sentiments of a long line of Ministers of Education, and of every educationist in the Dominion, when 1 fay that I cannot adequately express my appreciation of and gratitude for the great services given to education by Professor Thomas. His work for the Auckland Grammar Schools, undertaken during what be considered to be 'retirement years,' is a lasting monument to him as an educationist, apart from all his other many educational activities.

"It was a source of satisfaction to all those who knew and appreciated both the man and his work, and particularly to the Government, that he was the recipient recently of well-deserved recognition and honour from His Majesty the King. Our one regret was that such merited m-ognition did not come some

years earlier, for everyone agreed it was a fitting acknowledgment of a life spent in the service of education, science and humanity." One of Original Professors.

Sir Algernon's service to education in this country covers the whole p?riod from ISB3. when, at the age of 25, he was appointed as one of the original professors at the Auckland University College. This made lnm the youngest professor in the world at that time. Previous to that he had been educated at Manchester Grammar School and Balliol

College, Oxford, to which he went as Brackenbury Scholar and Natural Science Scholar. He was horn at Birkenhead, England. He graduated B.A. in 1577, M.A. in ISSO, and from IRKO-S2 was a demonstrator in the Oxford University Museum. He then secured the professorship in Auckland, and occupied the chairs of biology and geologv from 18S3 to 1914, when he retired.

For college purposes he established a small garden and did an immense amount of work by demonstrations and lectines to instil a love of horticulture in the country. Sir Algernon was recognised as one of the world s pioneers in hybridising narcissi. His chief local fame lay in his prowess as a raiser of daffodils, for which he had a particular penchant. Indeed, it has been said that when pictures of Sir Algernon tending his daffodil-s appeared in the newspapers it was a sign of approaching spring.

Professor Thomas himself considered that his greatest achievement was his research on the common liver-fluke, completed in England before his departure for Xew Zealand. In the winter of 157918S0 the liver-fluke pest cost England the lives of 3.000.000 sheep. Sir Algernon's research minimised much of the danger.

An original member of the Science and Art Board for Xew Zealand and an original fellow of the Institute (now the Royal Society) of Xew Zealand, he was from 1599-1903 and from 1921-32 a member of the Senate of the University of Xew Zealand. He became a •member of the Auckland Grammar School Board in 1599 and chairman in 1916. Since his retirement from active university work he had divided much of his time between the work of the board and the Auckland Institute and Museum, of which he became a member more than 50 years ago.

Professor Thomas* interest in so many subjects—plant life, indigenous fauna, agriculture, geology, languages, painting, photography, art collecting and music, combined with his understanding of men and affairs —made him one nf the most active educational leader* in Auckland for more than half a century. His skill and energy made him a widely-loved figure, particularly among the students at the five firnmmar schools, to whom

"Prof. Thomas" was an institution. Without his presence prize-givings lost their proper atmosphere.

University President's Appreciation. Eulogising Sir Algernon's lifelong work. Mr. H. J. D. Maliori. president of the Auckland L Diversity College and a former headmaster of the Auckland Grammar School, spoke of the hard pioneering work done by the late professor when he lectured in geology, botany and zoology in the early years of the University's history. "He" produced distinguished scholars in all his subjects."' said Mr. Mahon. "He won the gratitude of his students for the interest he took in their careers. His old students recall with pleasure the scientific outings he organised and the kindly hospitality with which he entertained them at his home in Mountain Road.

'"Students in tlie oarlv years of the L niversityV history had an inestimable advantage of constant personal contact with a gentleman of very wide culture and interests. Only those who had the privilege of the friendship of Sir Algernon realised the depth of his \vi<dom. In addition to his great knowledge of the subjects he professed, he was widely read in the classics and in Knglish literature: he was a fiennan and Italian scholar, wnd refld Dante in tlie original

for pleasure.

"As headmaster of the Auckland Orammar School I had oj»j»ortunitv of learning the time, thought and scrupulous attention .Sir Algernon cave to all matters affecting the welfare of the pupils and the staff.

who have followed the historv of education in Auckland will agree that in his record of achievement, strength of personality and stimulating influence for good. Professor Thomas was a creat man. His death will leave a gap in the educational life of the country that will he hard to fill, for men with the combination of intellectual gifts, lofty sense of public duty, and wisdom of administrative ability of the late Sir Algernon Thomas are all too rare. He was one of Auckland's most distinguished citizens and his memory will be cherished by the many who came under the infli:r::re of his inspiring personalit v." The Funeral.

The. funeral will loflve the residence. Mountain Road, at 2.1. j p.m. to-morrow, for St. Mary's Cathedral Church, where a memorial service will begin at 2.40. After the service, which will be conducted by the Veil. Archdeacon MacMurray. chairman of the Dilworth Trust Hoard, and the \ en. Archdeacon Simkin. the cortege will leave the church for Purewa Cemetery. The Verv Rev. Canon Fancourt will also officiate at the obsequies. His Grace Archbishop Avcrill. who is away oil holiday, will be unable to return for the funeral. Archdeacon Simkin will read the burial service ot the graveside.

The Minister of Education, the Hon Peter Fraser, will be one ol" the pall bearers.