HECTOR PRIZE AWARD

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 208, 30 May 1936, Page 6

HECTOR PRIZE AWARD

Royal Society Grant to Dr. W. R. B. Oliver ANNUAL MEETING HELD Elections of fellows and honorary members were conducted yesterday at tbe annual meeting of the Royal Society of New Zealand in Wellington. Dr W. IL B. Oliver was awarded the Hector Award for 1936, tribute being paid to his valuable botanical work. Dr. K. M. Curtis and Mr. E. Phillips Turner were elected to fellowships of tbe Royal Society. Dr. Bronislaw Malinowski and Sir Otto Wilckens were elected honorary members. The T. K. Sidey Summer Time Award for 1936 was held over for the time being, the opinion being expressed that wider publicity should be given to the existence of this award in order to increase the number of applicants. There were present: Bishop H. W. Williams of Waiapu, Dr. W. P. Evans (Wellington), Dr. F. J. Turner (Wellington), Professor H. B, Kirk (Wellington), Professor T. H. Easterlield (Nelson), Dr. P. Marshall (Wellington), Professor 11. W. Segar (Auckland), Dr. W. R. B. Oliver (Wellington), Mr. E. F. Stead (Christchurch), Professor J. Shelley (Christchurch), Mr. B. C. Aston (Wellington), Mr. G. V. Hudson (Hawke’s Bay), Mr. C. M. Smith (Wellington) and Dr. E. Marsden (Wellington), The annual report referred to the speeding up of the printing of the transactions, the four parts being pub- ! lished within the year, and to the progress of the indexing through the generosity of Major R. A. Wilson. A good deal had been done toward completing a reference list of scientific periodicals. The finance committee had controlled expenditure carefully, but a larger 'grant was desired from the Government. The member bodies now numbered seven, through the revival of the branch In Manawatu. The. Pacific Science Association had advised that it was hoped to hold a future conference in New Zealand. The Royal Meteorological Society had offered numerous books to the Royal Society. The financial statement showed a balance of assets over liabilities of £TSB. There was difficulty in securing investments for trust funds excepting at low rates of interest. Sales of periodicals showed a falling-off of £25. Reserve Bank shares tvould show a profit of £B/15/-, but a fresh investment would be found for the amount refunded by the Government. Bishop Williams, the president, in his annual report, referred to the great loss suffered by the society in the deaths of Professor J. S. Haldane, Sir G. Fowlds, Sir J. Coates, Professor J. M. Garrow, Mr. W. Ferguson, Mr. A. D. Crawford apd Dr. J. K. H. Inglis. The new rules had been gazetted. The next meeting of the Pacific Science Association would probably be held in Fiji and the next in New Zealand, possibly in-1940. The response to the Cockayne fund, which stood at £129/12/10, was disappointing, but morb subscriptions might be received with improved financial conditions. The Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science conference would be held at Auckland on January 12. The formation of a satisfactory programme of research was necessary before a grant toward this work could be expected from the Carnegie Trust. Upper Air Research. The report on research grantees stressed the value to meteorologists and airmen of upper air research by daily pilot balloon ascents at Christchurch. Data on direction and velocity of wind currents telegraphed to the Government Meteorologist assisted greatly in weather forecasts. An aero-theodolite had been established at Auckland, and observations there would be very helpful in prediction of weather for the North Island. The board of trustees of the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum reported that the building was to be opened on August 1, and arrangements had been made for roading and approach improvements at a cost of not more than £4OOO by the Wellington City Council. The Empire Art Loan Collection Society was lending a fine collection of paintings by noted artists for the opening ceremony. The finances were in a satisfactory state and money available would be sufficient to complete the work still to be done. Tbe New Zealand Institute of Horticulture report stated that efforts to arrange for trainees in horticulture to be instructed in the botanical gardens were being made with the Wellington City Council. The preservation of native bush and the extermination of plant-destroying animals had received attention. A Leonard Cockayne Memorial Medal was to lie given annually to the best student in the examination for the diploma of horticulture, provided there was a candidate of sufficient merit. The following officers wore elected: President. Bishop 11. W. Williams; vice-president.. Dr. W. P. Evans; treasurer. Mr. M. A. Eliott; editor. Dr. F. .1. Turner; associate editor. Dr. C. R. Laws; assistant-editor. Miss M. Fife; ' librarian. Professor IT. B. Kirk; coopted member. Dr. P. Marshall.