WESTERN SAMOAN SCIENCE GRADUATE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30127, 10 May 1963, Page 14

WESTERN SAMOAN SCIENCE GRADUATE

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, May 9. Mr P. D. Muller, a 24-year-o'd Samoan who will receive the degree of bachelor of science in the Auckland Town Hall tomorrow is thought to be the first Western Samoan to graduate in science.

Only last-minute efforts by the officer in charge of the meteorological service training school at Christchurch. Mr J. A. Hunter, and the Riccarton Rotary Club enabled him to be present at all.

He had intended to be capped in absentia, since the cost of the air fares would be too greet Mr Hunter heard about his plight and approached the Rotary Club, which agreed to pay Mr Muller’s tare to Auckland and back

Mr Muller began his science course at Auckland University, supported by his parents and money he earned by working during the holidays. He had intended to enter a teachers’ college this year, but the Government of

Western Samoa offered him the chance of training as a

meteorologist in New Zealand, eventually to take over as officer in charge at the observatory in Apia He is working first at the observers’ training school at Harewood, and will then go to Wellington for training as a forecaster. Later he will spend three months in Fiji, studying tropical meteorology and forecasting.