A DISTINGUISHED VISITOR.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13410, 30 April 1909, Page 8

A DISTINGUISHED VISITOR.

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

UNIVERSITIES AND MUSEUMS.

tin's city is just now bring honouredwith a visit by Dr. Thos. Ilodgkin, D.C.L., Litt.D., a distinguished historian and writer. Dr. Hotlgkin has spent a few weeks in the Dominion, and after a short stay in this city ho intends visiting Wellington and Auckland, prior to leaving for Australia, on routo for Home. He was interviewed yesterday by a "Press" reporter, and* touched on several interesting matters. He lias a most engaging per : sonulity, and he talked in a most interesting manner on a variety of subjects. Dr. Hcilgkin met with a slight accident in Dunedin. tho effects of which will keep him confined to his hotel for a day or two.

Dr. -Hodgkin is accompanied by Mrs Hodgkin, and their ion end daughter. They are- meiubers of the Society of Friends, or, to -use the more familiar term, Quakers. The chief object of their visit to these Antipodean lands, Dr. Hodgkin said, was to meet members of the Society. "We like to meet our Friends on this side of the world, and give them some messages from tho •Homeland. I notice you always speak about it as Homo still." Owing to the inconvenient effects of his accident-. Dr. Hodgkins was not able to see as much of the southern part of tho South Island , as he would have liked. However, be paid a visit to Lake Wakatipu, and was charmed with the scenery—"lt reminds one of Switzerland," was his tribute.

Dr. Hcdgkin is very keenly interested in university work, and he hopes to be able to visit the university colleges in Now Zealand and Australia. He holds the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and is one of the oldest graduates from University . College, London. He had a large share in the foundation of what was called the Physical Science College at Newcastle-on-Tyne, but is now known as Armstrong College, named after the great engineer, Lord Armstrong. This college is affiliated to Durham University, which grants its degrees. The. college has specialised very much in technical education—engineering, shipbuilding, coal mining, agriculture, and other professions and trades. "So far wo have not don© much on the literary eide," Dr. Hc-Jgkin continued, "and we find! that it it> tho most difficult to develop. We have a strong feeling that in every educational establishment there should' be- a good deal of attention given to literature, both ancient and modern. We have elates, and hope to havo more, but- so far they have not progressed so satisfactorily us those treating with moro material things.

i>r. Hodgkin is greatly interested in ethnology and archaeology. Ho was much pleased with the Dunediii Musouin, and is looking forward with pleasurable anticipation to a visit to tho Canterbury institution. "Museums," he said, "fihould be inado educational. The mere exhibition of a lot of specimens does very littlo good, unless it in explained where they camo from, and their relation to, tho different species. Some really good museums fail in this particular. They are made for those who already know, and do not efficiently educate the people who do not know."

Tho field work for the archaeologist is rather limited in .New Zealand, but Dr. Hodgkin recognises that there is some scope for tho activities of the enthusiast in the old Maori civilisation, such as it was, and tho curious Maori carvings. "I am rather interested in. tho Maoris," l>r. Hodgkin remarked. •'lndeed, it was my undo, J)r. Thomas Hodgkin, who was the founder of the Aborigines Protection Society, and he took , a great interest in the discussion on tho Maoris during tho war. I have always heard tho Maoris fjpokon of as one of the finest nativo races in the world, and I can quite believe that that is so."

Regarding future excursions into the fields of historical research, Dr. Hodgkin said that Border history had been claiming hie attention for some time past. "I am now living close to the Border, and look right into Scotland. The Border history is extremely interesting to mc, and if I succeed in doing anything else before I dio it will be some little matter in connection with Border hietory and Border laws, which were very curious indeed. The provisions which were made for regular raide on cattle, the rough justice which was meted out on the Border between the wardens on the English and Scottish sides, make a peculiar and fascinating chapter of history. I havo already lectured, and will probably write something about this subject.' .