Facts About Christchurch From Captain Cook

Press, Volume C, Issue 29557, 5 July 1961, Page 17

Facts About Christchurch From Captain Cook

Mr J. N. Rayner, a new lecturer in geography at the University of Canterbury, gained a lot of information about Christchurch from Captain Cook. "But his name was Charles and he was a captain in the United States Air Force. He was a meteorologist, who worked beside me at McGill University. Montreal, after being attached to the American Antarctic expedition which hops off from here." Mr Rayner said last evening. This chance meeting may have been decisive in Mr Rayner's acceptance of a permanent position so far south. A series of “accidental" events has involved him in the study of the origins of weather in the Arctic and Antarctic zones in the last few years. An Englishman, Mr Rayner took a bachelor of arts degree with honours in geography from Birmingham University. He then won an Arctic-Carnegie scholarship, which took him to McGill University. The significance

of the "Arctic” was that this particular Carnegie award is managed by the Arctic Institute of North America, which has its main offices in Montreal and Washington and specialises in research on Arctic regions. Mr Rayner continued his studies of climatology. Then.

when that scholarship expired, he was awarded a contract by the United States Army to prepare for publishing data and maps on Northern Hemisphere meteorology. He also continued at McGill his studies of temperatures up to 18.000 ft, principally in the Canadian archipelago. For this work, Mr Rayner has just received advice of the award of a master of science degree of McGill University. Mr Rayner is the first specialist in climatology on the geography staff of the University of Canterbury. He has been appointed to develop teaching in this growing field. “Up till a few years ago, climatology existed in two fairly separated divisions— Cl) climatology as practised by the meteorologist: (2) climatology as practised by the geographer. The first is interested chiefly in the facts of climate and the second interested chiefly in the trends leading to the development of a given climate," said Mr Rayner. "Lately, we have come much closer together, realising our dependence on each other, and both divisions are agreed on the enormous need and scope for complete training in the whole field of climatology.” said Mr Rayner. Other Interests Apart from climate. Mr Rayner’s two main interests are his baby daughter and soccer. Caroline Anne has been given English names, ai-l though she is a Canadian. Mr and Mrs Rayner said she was not named Caroline after toe daughter of President Kennedy or Anne after the daughter of Queen Elizabeth. "My wife is English, too,” Mr Rayner said with a smile. And Mr Rayner wondered whether any team in Christchurch would give him a game of soccer. One ought to because to come to Christchurch he resigned the captaincy of toe McGill University team, which recently won the Canadian intercollegiate cup.