TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9879, 9 November 1897, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

The death of Dr. Parker, The Late Professor of Biology at the Professor University of Otago, has Parker. robbed New Zealand of one

of her most accomplished men of science, one, indeed, whose tion has extended far beyond the "narrow confines of this colony, He waa a son of a scientific man, Dr. W. Kjtchen Parker, of London, a " goftffiheclalliitib of the Royal Society, and well known for his researches on the developments of the skeleton in birds and rtptilefy The late Profesaor Parker came out to Dunedin as Professor of Biology in the Otago University in 1831. Formerly he had been demonstrator in Professor Huxley's laboratory at the College of Science in London, and. while there waa editor, as well as part author, of Huxley and Martin's " Elementary Biology," a book which has revolutionised biological teaching in all English-speaking countries. Iα Dunedin he had charge of the University Museum as well as the biological laboratory, and under his direction it has attained the ■ distinction of being the best general collection of invertebrate zoology in the colony. He also invented a new process of preserving cartilaginous skeletons in glycerine-jelly. Hβ was fche author of many papers in the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, on the notornis and on the anatomy of fishes ; but his most important contributions to science are his papers on the.development of the kiwi, published in the "Philosophical' Transactions of the Royal Sooiety of London," and that on the skull of the moas, published in the " Transactions of the Zoological Society," oi London. tie was also the author of two text books, " A Course of Instruction in Zootomy," and "Elemontary Biology," both of which'are well known in England and America.' The latter is now in its third edition, and has been translated into German. Hiss levafc work-r-a "Text-book of Zoology " —is a most elaborate book, written in conjunction with Professor Has well, of Sydney University. It is not yet published, but the late professor finished the reading of the proofs before his death. Professor Parker was local Secretary for New Zealand of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, and was President of the Biological Section for the meeting to be held in Sydney next January. As a teacher, it is declared, he had few superiors, bringing to his work not only a complete knowledge of his subject, but also an enjoyment of ifc which was reflected by his pupils. His place in the local world of science will not be easy to fill

There are certain sections Over-worked of the community to whom Troopara. a holiday season like the

present; week ip Cfaristchurch brings no respite from ordinary duties, but on the contrary an increase of work. Among these are the guardians of the peace, who can hardly look forward to thia holiday time with any great pleasure. A Melbourne contemporary recently remarked tbat the gamblers, idlers and thieves of all the colonies gravitate to Melbourne in Cup week as naturally as do the officers of the naval squadron, and in a leaser degree the same may be said of Chriatchurch in Show week. But while the presence in the city of an unusually large number of undeairable characters no doubt entails upon an unduly small police force a considerable increase of work they do not suffer such hardships as some of the members of the Victorian force are said to have done during the Caulfield Cup gathering. The bitter cry of the mounted policeman has gone up on account of the manner in which he was treated, and the Melbourne newspapers have called the attention of the authorities to his -wrongs. It is said, for instance, that on one day of the V.A.T.C. meeting a number of mounted men were called into town from outlying districts, in some cases nearly twenty miles away. After reporting themselves at the depot at about 10 a.m., they were detailed to do duty at the Caulfield course from 11 o'clock in the forenoon, or two hours and a half before the I starting of the first race. There they sat in their saddles throughout the entire day until 7 p.m., without a morsel of food Iv

one case one of them partook of breakfasl at 6 a.m., rode nearly twenty miles, ami did not taste food again unlit 8 p.m., mid then lino to return lo his station the same evening, Some of the colonial troapore in the jubilee procession in London complained of th« length of time they wore kepi in the saddl< on that occasion, but, as is pointed out, i| was impossible for them, under the circunv stances, to be supplied with food or drink No such obataela would, however, prevent the fainting Melbourne mounted policemen beiug revived with light vefreslmicnts at not too frequent intervals.

It appears from the Pull 3[nU A Visit Gazette that it was our own from Mr Sotldon who wa3 the unRoyalty, witting c;uise of the London

Times: announcing that the Duke of sfork was about to commission H.M.S. Terrible for a colonial crviiae. The information was subsequently; oliidally con. tradicted and the usually unveracious London correspondents of Now York papora asserted that tho Queen-had:tout hop foot down and forbidden the cruise. Wβ gather that on tho same day asT/ie Tones made its announcement the London papers published a Renter's message to the elfect that the Government of New Zealand proposed to invite tho Dulco and Duchess to visit Australia and New Zealand. The Pall Mall Gazette writer thinks "it is by no means unlikely that the Admiralty in viow of the New Zealand desiro (which of course must have been communicated privately before being publicly announced), has been considering means of transport, thus giving rise to the report that found its way into print." The writer's opinion is that Mr Seddon, "a Radical of Radicals" and "an advanced Imperialist,"" would be " just the man to carry through plans for a Royal pro gress." Some memories are then revived of the previous visit in 1881 of the Duke to Australia, when, with his late brother, the Duke of Clarence, he was cruising round the world in tho Bacchante. That visit, as is truly said, was, however, iv no souse a State affair. The young Princes were mere boys, and far more gratified by entertainments of all kinds than by public- receptions, addresses and reviews. When they went down a gold mine at Ballarafc they awaited with ill-concealed impatience the end of the luncheon, which was laid 300 ft underground, " rushing off like boys immediately after, wards to try their luck at finding gold." On another occasion, when the train in whieli they were travelling from Bendigo to Melbourne stopped at Kyneton, " ladies and girls crowded round the state carriage to get a glimpse of them. Tho Duke of Clarence could not be seen, but the Duke of York, a chubby, round, smooth-faced little ohap, knocked up by the fatigue of the day, was sound asleep on a couch near the window. A mother kissed the pane and said, 'Poor little fellow, what a pity to keep him out of bod so late. . In a word, everybody looked •on the trip 'as they would on a schoolboy's holiday." If, however, the Duke and Duchesa camo out to these colonies now they would get the reception due to the Queen's representatives, and there is no need to dilate upon the warmth and enthusiasm with which they would be welcomed. But apparently it is not to be, ot least not yet, and doubts have been expressed as to whether such a visit will ever take place, although it is possible that the Royal couple may go to Canada for a short tour. ' •..