MR ISAAC HOPKINS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18399, 4 June 1925, Page 8

MR ISAAC HOPKINS.

"THE GRAND OLD MAN OP BEEKEEPING." (special to "the press.") GREYMOUTH, June 3. The services rendered to the honey in'Justrv j>y Mr Isaac Hopkins, who is generally admitted to bo the father of beekeeping on scientific lines in New Zealand and who, though ire his 89th year, still takes a lively interest in the industry, was th© subject of a brief eulogy from Mr E.- A. Earp, Chief Aoiary Instructor, at the National Association's conference to-day. "There is no question about it,'' snid Mr Earp, "that we should give -Mi- Hopkins full credit for what he did . prior to th© passing of th© Apiaries Act and tor his activities in? hndiug out that foul brood was present irj New Zealand, and for other "matters in which ho has been always to the lore. Mr Hopkins administered the Apiaries Act when it cacio into force, and the principal tramer of the Act. He was in charge at the time uhen Messrs Gibb awl Bray (who are both present to-day) were inspectors under it. We know that Mr Hopkins has played nn important part in the past, and I am sure that when he has gone his name will be remembered by beekeepers for many generations to come. It" will bo recalled also by old beekeepers that Mr Hopkins was the pioneer journalist of the industry having thirty or forty year 3 ago edited a periodical uevoted entirely to Leep and beekeeping. Ha has just completed the revision of his book on beekeeping which is to be published shortly." Mr Hopkins sent a characteristically worded apology for absence, which was read. "Please apologise for my absence from the conference," he' wrote "my excuse being that I have arl rived at the ag; when boys used to sav 'lt's time he wa3 pole axed,' or at all events too old to travel without a nurse, "iou might convey my congratulations on the Progress of beekeeping on the West Coast, pf which I am an old sixty-fiver. I hope you will a large and successful meetin£-'' 4 s a postecrijt Mr Hopkins added a nape that tqe (text conference would bo held m Auckland.