DEATH OF DR. HOOKEN

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 116, 18 May 1910, Page 2

DEATH OF DR. HOOKEN

A NOTED SCIENTIST. i [BY TELEGRAPH — PBESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, 17th May. Dr. Hocken, who has been intimately associated with the progress of Dunedin for nearly half a century, died to-nighfc at the age of 74 years. He had been in ill-health for 'several months, and his condition has been more or less critical for some weeks. He acted as surgeon for a member of public institutions for many years, and was the first lecturer on suvgery at the Otago University. In 1883 he was appointed a life member of the University Council, and on the retirement of Mr. Justice Williams from t.ue Chancellorship this year the deceased succeeded Mr. Janjes Allen as Vice-Chanoellor. He took a very keen interest in the early history of the colonies, and went to a great deal of expense to collect maps, manuscripts, plans, papers, etc., relating to the early days. These he recently presented to the people of the Dominion The "Hocken Wing," in which they are housed, was recently opened by Lord Plunket. Another notable memorial of his industry and public spirit is the "Bibliography of New Zealand," upon which he was engaged for many years. AN APPRECIATION. Interesting references to the late Dr. Hooken were made by his Honour Mr. Justice Chapman in conversation with a Post representative. "I am speaking oi the late Dr. Hocken," he said, "as a most intimate friend, our friendship extending over a period ofs thirty-eight years. His intimacy with other members of my family extended over a much longer period. With reference to lis skill and standing in his profession, that is more a matter for those who have a technical knowledge of such subjects. 1 can only speak of him as 1 Knew him in cases of illness in which he from" time to time achieved results which were almost marvellous. "With respect to his general scientific knowledge, he took a, leading part in the affairs of the Otago Institute for more than forty years. He was present at almost every meeting that took place when he was in Dunedin, and there was no one among several generations of those who took a part *n scientific affairs who was so absolutely constant in his attention and in his active participation in everything connected with the advancement oi science. He was an intimate personal friend, for instance, of Captain Hutton, Professor Parker, and Professor Benham, who in succession held the office of Curator of thu Museum which has been for many years under tht> supervision of the Otago Institute. His knowledge of scientific matters was extremely wide, extending over almost tne whole range of subjects, from one extreme to the other, from astronomy to biology. His leading pursuit outside his professional work was undoubtedly the investigation of New Zealand history and the collection of data for the use of the future nistorian, and generally the assemblage and assimilation of accurate facts respecting that history. His mind was absolutely a storehouse of such mat ters. It was impossible to mention a book or an author without discovering that he had full knowledge of both. Indeed, his knowledge went far beyoud that in matters of detail, because it was scarcely possible to mention any person connected with the history oi New Zea land or the literature relating to New Zealand without his disclosing that he had a minute knowledge of the- family and 'affairs, and character and disposition referred to. It is impossible now to describe the extent to which he had carried his acquisition of knowledge ot 'the minutest matters relating to New Zealand ; but anyone who has read his writings will see that his faculty was not confined to that of assembling de- ' tails, but it extended to a capability of assimulating and utilising such material in a broad sense. It is in that respect that the public will feel the loss, thatthey have sustained, because after working for many years at the acquisition of the necessary knowledge, Dr. Hoc Ken has not been spared to put more thau a fraction of the results upon paper foi the information of the public. He nas, however, classified his marvellous collection of books, papers, and documents in such a way and annotated it to sucn an extent that a vast amount of his collected information will be available for future investigators. It is sufficient to say that his industry was absolutely endless, and that h© had the faculty, which he exercised freely, of workin at odd moments £and making woTk done in this mannerassiime a continuous form. His great work will undoubtedly prove to be the bibliography which he recently completed for the New Zealand Government. One nas only to read the terse notes under the various headings to see the vast amount of labour that it involved, and trie vast amount of information that it gives to the public. "One outstanding characteristic should never be forgotten. That was Dr. Hocken's regard Tor children. It is not enough to sp«ifc- of his love for children. He carried his interest in them throughout their careers, whatever age they might reach. In this way innumerable people of all ages now look back to Dr. Hocken as one of their benefactors. He followed the careers of children from babyhood to manhood and womanhood with unfailing interest. It is impossible now vo estimate the beneficial result of his advice as to career, health, and other matters which has influenced for good the lives of so many. His firsn enquiry on a, visit always wa* something respecting the career ot the young people. "Among Dr. Hockens's own friends, however, what was most striking about him was his own personality. That is •something which it is impossible to describe. His unlimited geniality was a characteristic that was known to all. There was no man at any period in the history of Dunedin, and perhaps I might say in the history of New Zealand, who had a wider circle of friends and acquaintances. In his frequent tours of New Zealand he sought out every human being who could possibly give him information about its history, and wherever he went his peculiar personal magnetism displayed itself in such a way that every door was open to him. This is no exaggeration. He must have felt it himself, because he seemed without embarrassment to be able to walk into almost every house in New Zealand. Everywhere he was welcome, not merely as a well known man but as a personal friend. Naturally, he was better known and more apreciated in Dunedin, where he' lived for the greater part of half a century. Dr. Hocken and the members of his family are intimately known literally to the whole population there, and I can only say that wherever he moved hi 9 visits were appreciated by all and sundry. His house was recognised as a house of call for all visitors to New Zealand, but that was not the limit, because it may be fairly said that it was a house of call for all sorts and conditions of people. Rich and poor, all found the doctor available for advice and assistance in all circumstances. Those who knew him intimately only became casually aware from time to time of the amount of assistance that he gave to poor people in the way of advice and pecuniary aid, and in effecting reconciliations betsagfl juggle who

had the misfortune to have family quarrels, and in doing everything that would tend to make the lives of his friends and casual acquaintances run more smoothly. That is the phase of the doctor's character and disposition that cannot be adequately described. He was one of that type of man who was always cheerful, never boisterous. In his work he snowed endless industry without ever being flurried. In his personal relations with his fellow men his disposition was much the same. Full of humour and of remarkable stories of past times, which were a source of never-failing interest to his hearers, he had a similar capacity for listening to narratives of the same kind. Companionship with Dr. Hocken, in short, was always a source of genial pleasure to those who had that privilege. I can only say, in fine, that I have only been able to say a few words on the subject as they occur to me at the moment, and I confess myself incapable of really expressing what every man who has long lived in Dunedin must recognise as the real character and disposition of the late Dr. Hocken.