PIONEERS IN NEW ZEALAND GEOLOGY.

Evening Star, Issue 11895, 25 May 1903, Page 2

PIONEERS IN NEW ZEALAND GEOLOGY.

AN APPRECIATION. Professor Park, in his address at the Mining School conversazione on Friday evening, paid a high tribute to the work and zeal of the early geologists of the colony, making special mention of the late Dr Ferdinand Von Hochstetter, the late Sir Julius Von Haast, Sir James Hector, and Captain Hutton. Dr Hochstetter, he explained, arrived in Auckland in December, 1853, in charge of the Novara scientific expedition sent by the Austrian Government to explore the Pacific Ocean and islands. He was already known as a distinguished geologist, and his advent to Auckland was hailed with delight. The early colonists of New Zealand were very much alive to the benefits to be derived from scientific investigation. Accordingly the Auckland Provincial Government, supported by the Genend Government, requested Dr Hochstetter to make a geological examination of tire Waikato coalfield. This work was soon accomplished,- and subsequently, at the urgent request of the Governor and others, lie extended his explorations to the Upper W aikato and King Country. He also made a detailed survey of the volcanic region lying around the isthmus of Auckland, aud his map of that portion was so accurate that*it has not been' - improved up to the present day. The classification of formations formulated by Dr Hochstetter formed the basis of the geological structure of New Zealand. Dieffenbach, the German geologist, and Dana, the celebrated American ‘geologist, had previously examined portions of the North Island, but Hochstetter’s was the first attempt at systematic geological survey. Dr Hochstetter also visited Nelson at the request

oi tho Protitielal GbicifftMierit, and exaSmhed the Hilit Mountain copper mine, the mineral belt) Richmond Hills, and CollitigwotkL The narthllrf; of Hochstettet’s travels bed fekplofatiotm are contained (Continued. the lecturer) in his magnificent "Vttlhme on NfeW Zealand) a work long since blit of print, now vety rare ahd valuable. _ Professor Park nett referred to Mr Haast, afterwards Sit Julius Von Haast, an assistant of Dr Hochstetter, who first came into prominence for his exploration of the mountainous regions of Nelson Province. This work he did so well that he was afterwards appointed geologist for the ■united provinces of Canterbury and Westland. For some years he was engaged in an arduous exploration of the Alpine regions of those provinces. Besides that work he made a careful geological examination of the whole of Canterbury) and in 1878 embodied the results of his work in a splendid \vork ch the geology of Canterbury and Westland. Professor Park said that as a Government geologist he had been employed in revising Dr Haast’s work in many places, and from his personal experience he could safely affirm that Haast’s work was characterised by thoroughness and exactness.' On no occasion did he find that geologist straining the facts to support any particular theory. Sir Janies -Hector, in 1866, was appointed Government Geologist for Otago, and for three years wM engaged In the exploration of the West Coast Sounds) and in the mountainous regions in the neighborhood of the Bake country. The absence of roads and bridges at the time tendered this work often arduous and difficult, involving at times no little personal risk, attended with privation. In 1869 he was appointed director of the New Zealand geological surveys, a position from 'which he had just retired. Coming down to 1873 we found Captain Hutton provincial geologist for Otago. That gentleman, in the year 1875, in association with the late Professor Ulrich, published a monumental work on the geology and resources of Otago and Southland—a work that wan a model of clearness and methodical arrangement, and one which must reinain for all time a pattern for geologists. The classification of formations formulated by Hutton in 1875 more nearly represented the chronological order and relations of the different formations than any classification known before or since that date. Captain Hutton had proved himself to be a veritable, Trojan in original scientific research. Besides his geological work, ho also published many valuable contributions on petrology, palseoutology, and on almost every branch of zoology. Moreover, all his work was characterised by great thoroughness and soundness, aind the high place enjoyed by New Zealand in the scientific i#irld was in no small degree due to the profound and ptolific pen of Captain Hutton, Professor Park, in conclusion, said that the time was approaching when tfce students of to-day would be the geologists of to-morrow, and to them we must look to do their part of the work, not merely as well, but better than the old pioneers, because the students had the Valuable experience of their forerunners to start upon.