A RESEARCH FUND.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 26, 31 January 1907, Page 8

A RESEARCH FUND.

CAPTAIN HUTTON MEMORIAL. THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE'S RECOMMENDATIONS. After the death of the late Captain Hutton tho Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute decided to commemorate Captain Hutton'-s scientific work in tho colony by establishing a fund to be known as the "Hutton Memorial Research Fund," the money obtained to bo devoted to the encouragement of original research in biological and geological science in New Zealand, and to be vested in and controlled by the Board of Governors of tho New Zealand Institute. A committee consisting of Drs. Chilton" and Cockayne, and_ Messrs. • Speight and Laing, of Christchnrch, was set up to complete arrangements for the establishment of the fund, and to report with suggestions for dealing with the fund at the annual meeting of the institute. The report was presented at the annual meeting of the institute held today. The committee reported that they had collected subscriptions with the result that a sum of about £330 had been raised from private subscriptions. "While the total amount thus raised," the committee continued, "must bo considered very satisfactory, the committee cannot help pointing out that the fund has not received support from many quarters from which such support might have been naturally expected. Thus, although it was made clear from tho commencement that the benefits of the fund were to be extended to the whole of New Zealand, by far the greater amount of the subscriptions has been contributed by Canterbury and Otago. Of the institutes affiliated only the Otago Institute, tho Philosophical Institute (Canterbury), the Westland, and tho Hawkes Bay Philosophical Institute have con-v tributed, and the amount of private subscriptions received fr^m the North Island has been very small indeed. As the committee feels that the mention of these facts will be sufficient to bring about tho remedy, they suggest that the fund bo still kept open so that all interested in the matter may have an opportunity of subscribing to the fund." During the year tho committee took an opportunity of interviewing the Premier and laying before him the claims of tne fund on tho colony. As a result a sum of £300 was placed upon the " supplementary estimates, and it was hoped 'that this amount would soon be paid to tho fund. The committee made the following recommendations : — (1) That tho fund remaip open for further contributions. (2) That three trustees be appointed by tho Board of Governors to have control of the moneys belonging to the fund. (3) That the trustees be authorised to expend a sum not exceeding £100 in procuring a bronze modal, to be known, as the Hutton Modal. (4) That the remainder of the fund, alter purchase of the medal, bo invested in some approved manner, and that the interest arising from rucli investment be used for the furtherance of the objects of the fund. » (5) That the Hutton Medal be awarded from time to time by the Board of Governors to peisons who havo made some notable contribution in connection ■« ith the zoology, botany, or geology of New Zealand. (6) That tho Board of Governors make grants from time to time from the accrued interest of the invented portion of the fund (in accordance with regulations) to persons or committees who require assiotance in prosecuting research. The recommendations included two other clauses for woiking purposes. The attached regulations suggested that the medal should nob bo awarded oftener than once in three years, and not for any rescaicb mado previous to December last. It wan also suggested that the medal should be awaided only to New I Zealanders, i.e., those who had received the greater part of their education in New Zealand, or who had resided in tho colony for ten years. In regard to tho grants, the attached regulations suggested that preference should be given to New Zealanders. Dr. Chilton suggested that the report shonld b» received and dificusssd at a, later date. Tho president remarked that he was sure the apathy referred to in the report would disappear at once. Tho fact was that very little about the fund had appeared in the papeTs. It was thereupon agreed, after Dr. Chilton had explainod what steps had been taken in Christchurdi, to receive the report and discuss it at a later efcago of the meeting.