THE LATE SIR JAMES HECTOR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 109, 31 January 1908, Page 10

THE LATE SIR JAMES HECTOR.

TRIBUTE FROM SCIENTIFIC MEN. The following resolution was passed at the mooting of the New Zealand instittito yesterday "That the Board of Governors of tiio New Zealand Institute desires to expiess its profound regret at the great low sustained by the scientific wore! through the death of the late President, St James Hector. By his own reseaivlies in geology, zoology, and botany, in ti c Dominion of New Zealand, ho (..Jed greatly to the knowledge of these branches of science. As head of. the Geological Survey, of the Meteorological Department, and of the Colonial Laboratory, t .and as Director of the Colonial Museum, .lie was the scientific a" ■ visor, of successive Governments lor a long period of years, while as Chancellor of the New Zealand University ho was closely associated with the highest education of the Dominion. Th-; Bcavd wishes to express its high appreciation of these eminent services to science, especially in New Zealand." It was decided to forward a copy of the resolution to Lady Hector. A Canadian eulogy of the deceased was also received from Mr. Otto Klotz, LL.D., F.R.A.S., an honorary member of the New Zealand Institute, resident in Canada. Tho letter was dated November 7, 1907 "I have just seen in the telegraphic messages that Sir James Hector has passed away," said the writer. "1 hasten to pay my tribute of respect and admiration for him. To mo it was a great privilege to have made the personal acquaintance of Sir James in Fiji in 1903, and later at his home in New Zealand. For us in Canada Sir James has left an indelible mark by his services in connection with the I'alliser expedition of 1857 and 1800, and though this work is more enduring than granite, yet some of his friends here have erected a shaft to his memory near the summit of the Rocky Mountains, which he knew so well. To tho world, however, his subsequent labours for two score years in his adopted home are best known. Fortunate indeed it was for New Zealand that Dr. [lector turned his face to theSouHiern Hemisphere. One can truly say Dr. Hector was the Nestor ol science, '.lo n.e, the name 'Hector' seems graven over tile country from tho North Cape to the Rlulf. Valnablo as have been the services of many other distinguished men in connection mm the New Zealand Institute, yet the name of him for whom wo mourn must ever be the prominent one for many years after its foundation. New Zealand," concluded the writer, "has lost one of her great men, and the scientific world one of her earnest and most conscientious workers. In spirit, 1 lay a .laurel wreath on bis grave.—Otto iilotz."