VISIT APPRECIATED

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 63, 7 December 1938, Page 15

VISIT APPRECIATED

Noted Botanist, Professor Carl Skottsberg ROYAL SOCIETY TRIBUTE “The professor collected practically every flowering plant that came undei his notice, and the long hours he spen earing for his treasures was a ICSS '“J not likely to be forgotten by those Oo observed it,” said Dr. 11. 11. Allan in reporting to a recent meeting ot ™ standing committee of the Koyai Society of New Zealand on the visit to New Zealand by the Director of th Gothenburg Botanical G ;T’? e “®’ Sweden, Professor Carl Skottsbei te ,. who is renowned for his studies ,on tne biological relations of Austral ana Pacific lands. . , Professor Skottsberg, a recognized authority on taxonomic and phytographic botany, whose work has been of great interest and of vital importance to New Zealand botanists, was elected an honorary member of the Royal Society of New Zealand last y Professor Skottsberg went to the Hawaiian Islands to work on the bog vegetation there, and at the instance of the Royal Society and the Senate or the University of New' Zealand extended his visit to the Dominion. Di. Allan, in his report, staterl that the branches of the Royal Society and the University Colleges had given keen support so that funds sufficient to enable Professor Skottsberg to visit New Zealand were soon raised. Great interest had also been expressed by the New Zealand Government. The professor visited Auckland, wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and delivered a number of lectures. While in the capital he made an excursion of several days to the Tararua , mountains, visited the Otari open air museum, and laid a wreath of native plants, collected by himself, on the grave of lii<s friend of many years, tlie late Dr. Leonard Cockayne. “Besides his formal lectures. Professor Skottsberg gave several shorter •talks, delivered radio addresses,. and eagerly sought opportunities of discussions with local botanists and students,” Dr. Allan said. “A typical example of the professor's eagerness to help was his hour’s stay with an isolated young enthusiast at the Homer Saddle. “The large audiences that listened to his lectures will long retain vivid memories of the vegetation and geography of the regions described, illustrated as they were by a remarkably fine series of lantern slides. The professor's visit, his genial personality, his readiness to help, his capacity for work, and his profound knowledge of the subjects dealt with will long inspire those w'ho came under his influence.”