Scholars Deplore Loss Of Records At Rotorua

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27400, 13 July 1954, Page 10

Scholars Deplore Loss Of Records At Rotorua

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 12. One of New Zealand’s foremost historians and an internationally famous New Zealand geologist today deplored the destruction of valuable scientific records in a fire in the Rotorua offices of the Geological Survey on Saturday. The historian, Dr. J. C. Beaglehole, asked when the authorities would realise that historical records were valuable, and the geologist, Professor C. A. Cotton, criticised the Treasury for the “cheeseparing” that delayed the publication of Geological Survey work for 10, 20 or more years. The records lost in the fire constituted eight years’ research into geothermal and volcanic activity carried out from the Rotorua headquarters of the Geological Survey. The photographic library, containing hundreds of prints, negatives, and films of Ngauruhoe eruptions, was destroyed. The library of the Government Vulcanologist (Mr J. Healy) was reduced to ashes. It was the result of 20 years of compilation, and was considered one of the best geological libraries in New Zealand. “The same old story,” said Dr. Beaglehole, who is lecturer in colonial history at Victoria University College. “A neat little appendix; so far as one can see, to the Hope Gibbons fire of unhappy memory.” (Dr. Beaglehole was referring to the Hope Gibbons fire in Wellington in 1952, when thousands of irreplaceable departmental records and files of early legislation were destroyed.) “I don’t know how many more fires,

and how much more destruction will be necessary to convince those in authority that historical records—whether political, administrative, or scientific—are important,” Dr. Beaglehole said. “Perhaps some day, when all the written and graphic records of our country’s past have perished by fire and rats and floods, some Prime Minister or other statesman will be found sentimental enough at least to heave a sigh an say, ‘What a pity.’ “In the meanwhile, it is the easiest of prophecies to prophesy more fires,” said Dr. Beaglehole. Professor Cotton, who recently retired as professor of geology at Victoria University College, said that because of delays, probably the fault of the Treasury, the Geological Survey did not get the results of its research published. “Owing to cheeseparing by somebody the survey does not get its work published,” he said. “If the results are not published in five, or 10 years the money spent on the original research work is wasted. Some reports are held up for 10 years, or 20 years, some are never printed. All the thousands of pounds spent on the scientific research goes down the drain,” he said.

Every year fires seemed to whittle down valuable scientific material. It would not be such a serious blow if this material were published, as then the progress of the research and its results would be in print in the hands of others, though the original records were destroyed, Professor Cotton said.