COUNTRIES AKIN

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 12, 15 January 1929, Page 10

COUNTRIES AKIN

VISIT OF THE DANA

SCIENTISTS WELCOMED

OCEAN RESEARCH

Dr. Johannes Schmidt, chief of the Royal ■ Danish Ocean Research Mission, Mrs. Schmidt, and officers of the research ship Dana, wore accorded a civic welcome in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, at noon today. Accompanying members of tlio mission were Mr. S. A. Longuct, t.he Danish Consul, and Mrs. Longuct.

The Mayor, Mr. G. A. Troup, in bidding the guests welcome, said that New Zealand and Denmark had very much in common; the two countries were akin in many respects. One of Denmark's many islands was Zealand; our country took its' name from that island. Denmark 's great industry was dairying, and Now Zealand had largely patterned her thriving dairy industry upon Denmark's work. Between Denmark and the whole of the British Empire them was a very, close tie indeed, in that Queen Victoria, England's most gracious and able queen, was a Danish Princess.

Denmark had for many years past taken a keeu interest in scientific movement, and the voyage of the Dana was yet another evidence- of that aspect of Danish thought. The members of the expedition were men of outstanding qualifications, and for that alone were welcome, but again the people of Wellington were pleased indeed to welcome them for themselves, and trusted that their stay in Now Zealand waters would bo pleasant, happy, and profitable. Particularly were Wellington people pleased to welcome Mrs. Schmidt. (Applause.)

The lion. J. G. Cobbe extended a welcome also as from the Government, and expressed the hope that the visit of the mission would be completely enjoyable as well as beneficial to scientific study. The observations made would undoubtedly be of benefit to the world as a whole, and New Zealand would particularly profit, in the matter of added knowledge of ocean currents and ocean life. He had the greatest pleasure in welcoming the members of the expedition to New Zealand.

Councillor H. D. Bennett, speaking for the members of the City Council, and referring to the Mayor's remarks as to the relationships between Denmark and New Zealand, remarked that the New Zealand dairying industry owed its success to the. Danish system, though, said New Zealanders, New Zealand had so improved upon that system that an even better article was produced. The Danish people and their Government regarded scientific research in the broadest manner, and thus it was that the present expedition had been dispatched, to gather data from which the whole world, not Denmark alone, would profit. (Applause.) "Perhaps you can imagine how refreshing it has been for .the members of the expedition after a long time spent on the ocean in our little ship to come into the calm water of this beautiful harbour of Wellington, to see your bright city nestling among* the green hills, and finally to be moored alongside such a fine wharf and to_ obtain the excellent facilities and conveniences which the port of Wellington provides," said Dr. Schmidt in reply. "I must express my appreciation and thanks to '.the Wellington Harbour Board, and to the Marine Department, and other Departments for all that they have so kindly done for us.

■."The material facilities :'arc very much appreciated. But it is the warm personal friendship and kindnesses which wo have met on every' hand which touch us most, and for which I cannot find words to acknowledge adequately. Though we are now separated by the span of the whole world from our native land, you have succeeded in making us feel at home.

"The New Zealand region is an extremely interesting part of the Pacific ocean," said Dr. Schmidt, "and already observations of great value had been made,, though their full significance could ; not be shown until they had been made the object of further study. He hoped it would not be very long before epoch-making contributions to the science of oceanography and marine biology would, bo forthcoming, from New Zealand, which had produced scientists sucli as Dr. "Rutherford as a physicist and Dr. Cockayne as a botanist, whoso fame was world-wide.

"What has impressed us from our first entering the Dominion is tho hearty welcome that has been extended to us wherever wo have gone; the pains tho Government's representatives have, taken have made us feel that we really are welcome," concluded Dr. Schmidt. "1 feel this and appreciate it personally, and I know that the Government of Denmark, whose representative I lutvo tho honour of being on this occasion, will appreciate it also; and my thanks an? f.nr them as well.as for myself. *-.

"We ar,e well satisfied with the scientific results of our visit to New Zealand waters; but we trust that, in addition to treasures of natural history and a harvest of scientific material, our visit will have helped ; to produce an iucreased harvest of good fellowship and friendship between our two nations." (Applause.) .. '.-..,