PROFESSOR COOK.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13740, 23 May 1910, Page 7

PROFESSOR COOK.

. A private telegram received in ChfiKtehurch yesterday from Martoii stated that Professor Cook, for many years on the professorial staff of Can*-t-erbury College, had died the previous day. ' ■'"■■■

The late Professor Cook was born in London, and at an early age came out t-o Australia. Here ho-was prepared privately for the University of 'Melbourne, and" whilst attending that University he gained several scholarship, exhibitions, and prizes, and took high honours in mathematics. In 1868 he entered at St. John's College. Cambridge, and became a foundation scholar of that college, graduaiin- in the .Mathematical Tripos-of 1872, being sixth wrangler of his year, and subsequently ho was elected a Fellow of the College. Towards the end of 1874 he. i\as appointed to fill the, Chair of Mathematics at Canterbury College, nnd entered on the duties in February, 1875. Professor Cook was one of thethi*ee professors first appointed to Canterbury College, the other two beinjlr Professor Mncmillan Brown and Professor Bieke-rton.. His classes were held for irome time- in a room over the Library. "With Professor Sale, of Otago University, he went to Wellington as representative of Canterbury College to confer with the Senate regarding the re-drafting of University regulation?. Professor Cook has been a member or the-Senate since 1884 u,r/ to 1908, and under the new constitution he .has represented the- Professorial Board of Canterbury College on that body. When the School of Engineering was opened at Canterbury College he was placed in charge, and for three years prior to tho foundation of the Chair of Engineering, when Professor Scott was appointed, he remained in charge. Professor Cook hae often acted as examiner both for the, University and for the Education Department. He was a Fellow of Christ's College, and a member of the Cathedral Chapter. In 1895 Professor Cook ,p!aid a flying visit to the Old Country, returning ixi time to take up his duties when the College opened after tho vacation in 1896. In 1907 he was given twelve months' leave by tho Board of Governors, but after resuming in 1908, acting on medical advice, he cave notice of resignation. The most distinguished of the professor's old pupils is Professor Rutherford, who now occupies tho Chftir af Physics at Manchester University. Other pupils were 31 rW. S. Mauris (who one year topped the list in the Indian Civil Service examinations) , Dr. Chilton, Dr. Evans, and Mr R. Spei'cht, of Canterbury College staff, who are all senior scholars in mathematics. Professor Cook leaves a widow, two sons, and three daughters. One of his sons is a solicitor in Marton. and the other, who took the degree of Bachelor of Engineering recently, left for Lou-, don in order to pursue his studies there. -