Obituary PROFESSOR W. RIDDET

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28784, 3 January 1959, Page 8

Obituary PROFESSOR W. RIDDET

(New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON N., January 2. The death has occurred of Professor William Riddet, director of the New Zealand Dairy Research Institute since its inception in 1928, and until some months ago, Vice-Principal of Massey Agricultural College, an institution which he, with the retiring Principal, Professor G. S. Peren, was instrumental in establishing 30 years ago. Professor Riddet was recognised as one of the world’s foremost authorities in the dairy industry, with a profound knowledge of its scientific basis as it affected the production of milk and the processing of dairy produce. He was a member of the secretariat of the Dairy Industry Commission of 1934, president of the Dairy Science Association from 1925 until 1947. A member of the Research Council from 1934 until 1953, and president of the Society for Animal Production in 1942 and 1943.

He had lengthy membership of the Grasslands Association, the Institute of Agricultural Science, and the Association of Scientists. He was well known in Palmerston North as president of the Rotary Club in 1942 and 1943.

Professor Riddet was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, of farming parents, and after secondary education went on to the West of Scotland Agricultural College, which is attached to Glasgow University. After gaining the awards of B.Sc. (Agr.), N.D.A. (Hons). N.D.D. (Hons.), and C.D.A.D. (Hons.), he was appointed in 1921 to the lecturing staff of the college. His varying duties, which included that of county organiser, kept him in close touch with commercial dairy farming and the application of the results of research.

He saw military service in tire First World War as a captain in the fourth battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, in Palestine and Europe from 1917 to 1919. In paying tribute to Professor Riddet, the Mayor of Palmerston North (Mr W. B. Tennent, MJ?.) said: “In the passing of Professor Riddet, New Zealand has lost one of her finest citizens—a man whose contribution to the economy of this country through the dairy industry is second to none.

“I have always been greatly Impressed with the splendid analytical mind of Professor Riddet and the outstanding drive which he has always shown in all matters connected with his > various spheres of activity.” Professor Riddet is survived by his widow, one son, Colin (Wanganui), and one unmarried daughter, Fiona (Palmerston North).

MR G. MANSON (New Zeaiana Press Association) NELSON, January 2. The chairman of the Nelson Hospital Board (Mr George Manson, of Stoke) died yesterday. He was 78. He had been a member of the board since 1921 and chairman since 1950. He was also a member of the Diocesan Trust Board and a director of the Nelson Freezing Company. Mr Manson farmed a large property near Takaka before coming to Nelson in 1919, and he had an interest in farms at Golden Bay ■and Stoke. He joined the board of the Nelson Freezing Company in 1924 and was chairman of directors from 1931 until last year.

He also served as a member of the Waimea County Council and the Nelson Harbour Board.

He was a president of the Nelson Bowling Centre and the Nelson Bowling Club, and was on the committee of the Nelson Jockey Club, of which he was a life member. He was a past master of both the Golden Bay and Southern Star Masonic Lodges and a member of the Kirkpatrick Masonic Institute Trust Board. He was also on the committee of Whareama Home for Aged People. Mr Manson is survived by his wife. MR D. TEVIOTDALE *The Press* Special Service INVERCARGILL, January 2. A man who devoted most of his life’s work to Otago and Southland museums has died at Peacehaven. He was Mr David Teviotdale, who, since 1929, worked to pass on to the two museums his findings. He was 88. Born at Hyde, Central Otago, on June 17, 1870, he spent his early life farming and gold mining. From 1912 to 1924 he had a shop in Palmerston.

He was always interested In Maori backgrounds and collected much Maori and moa-hunter material in the Otago area, giving a large collection of his findings to the Otago Museum. In 1929 he was appointed preparator in the ethnographical department of the Otago Museum, where he worked on excavations and investigations of kitchen middens in the South Island and recorded the results in many articles in the journals of the Polynesian Society. Ini 1929 the award of the Percy Smith medal for archaeology was given to Mr Teviotdale, although it was not until" 1951—22 ‘ years

later—that the presentation took place. In 1942 he was appointed a director of the Southland Museum, from which position he retired in 1952. During his directorship he continued, when failing health allowed him, his field work in Maori and moa-hunting ethnology, working at Greenhills, Back Beach. Colac Bay, and Wakapatu. Mr Teviotdale is survived by one daughter, Miss Mary Teviotdale, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England.