LONG’CAREER ENDING

Evening Star, Issue 20898, 15 September 1931, Page 7

LONG’CAREER ENDING

PROFESSOR J. PARK'S RETIREMENT THIRTY YEARS AT THE MINING SCHOOL WORLD-FAMED METALLURGIST AND GEOLOGIST

After thirty years as professor of mining and economic geology and dean of the mining faculty of the University of Otago, Professor James Park this afternoon tendered his resignation to the Council of the University. By tho many distinguished mining engineers and t geologists who have passed through* his hands, the high name of the Otago School of Mining and the standard works of which he is the author, Professor Park is known in almost every corner of the globe. Fifty-five years ago he commenced his work in New Zealand and, despite his strenuous life, he retires at the age of seventy-four in splendid health. .The son of James Elphistone Park, Professor Park was born at Thaneston, Donside, Scotland, and received his early education at the Cruderi Preparatory School and later at Dr Fowlie’s Church School, near Aberdeen. Going to the Imperial College of Science, ho had a distinguished student career, being Ramsay prizeman in geology. At the college ho was also prominent in

sport, representing it as a Rugby threequarter, while he was also a Keen cricketer. In 1875 lie arrived in New Zealand, and for two years was engaged in sheep fanning in the east coast district of the province of Wellington. Joining the New Zealand Geographical Survey as a field geologist, under the late Sir Janies Hector, he was first field assistant for several years, and then became mining geologist in 1885. In that capacity he obtained an intimate knowledge of every part of New Zealand, and there is probably no man living to-day who knows the country so thoroughly. A very strenuous undertaking was his expedition to the Red Hill country lying to the south of Jackson’s Bay and to the east of Big Bav, a country devoid of tracks or bridges across the many mountain streams. In 1885 h© carried out a geological survey of the western part of the Wellington province and of a greater part of Taranaki, when the country north of Waitara was covered with dense forest. , Mountaineering became a hobby with Mr Park, and during his residence in Nelson he organised the Alpine Club, which later became the New Zealand Alpino Club. While in Nelson he was the leader of parties which carried out exploration in the Mount Arthur,, Owen, Spencer, and Kaikoura Ranges. Afterwards, as a member of the Geological Survey, he traversed the Hopkins River, draining into Lake Ohau, and ascended to the higher peaks on the alpino chain overlooking that watershed. Early in January, 1886, the year of the famous Tarawera eruption, he made the first .ascent of the highest peak of Ruapehu, now called Ruapehu Peak. If his experiences on, and .tho information gained of, the alpino chains were written by Professor Park they would easily fill a , book. His mountaineering feats, particularly that across the trackless alpine regions extending from Mount Earnslaw to the West Coast sounds, were of' an exceptionally protracted and hazardous character, and stamped him as a man of great energy and endurance. In 1890 Mr Park resigned from the Geological Survey, the New Zealand Government having appointed him director of the Thames School of Mining, a position which he held till May, 1896. What he did for that institution is now a matter of history. Prom the status of a village school he raised it to the proud position of tho leading raining school in the colonies of New Zealand and Australia, drawing students from across tho Tasman and attracting the commendation of leading mining men throughout the world. He proved himself an instructor of mining and metallurgy of exceptional ability, and many managers and metallurgists owed their start in life to his help and encouragement. Besides acting as director of the School of Mines, Professor Park was manager of the Government experimental and cyanide works at Thames, erected in connection with the school, and in that capacity he acquired a knowledge of the methods of treating the refractory ores met with in tho Hauraki district, at the same time continuing his scientific and mining researches, his map and memoir of the Thames goldfields forming a classical work. He did much in the gold boom days to attract capital from overseas for tho development of the country s resources. As a director of the school Mr Park enhanced the reputation which he had already established as a keen and careful field observer. In 1886 Mr Park resigned from the Thames School to take up the general managership on tho Hauraki goldfields for the Anglo-Continental of London, a s5 - ndicate which is still operating in various parts of tho world. Ho was also consulting engineer for the group. Under his charge ho had 1,200 miners, who produced a large amount of gold and silver over a period of twelve years. In 1901 Mr Park was appointed professor of mining and economic geology at the University of Otago in succession to the late Professor Ulrich and he has raised the Mining School to a fame recognised by mining experts in every part of the world. During his professorship tho school has made remarkable advances, and the course for tho A.O.S.M diploma and the B.E. degree in mining has been extended from three to four years. Among the subjects that have been added to the course of instruction arc strength of materials, building construction, graphic statics, practical hydraulics, engineering and mining surveying, and practical astronomy, all of which have proved valuable to the graduates in their professional careers. Competent authorities regard the Otago School of Mining as being second only to the Royal School of Mining, London, in the standard of academic work and practical instruction. Tho young . engineers gained by him are held is Mgfe esters

by the large mining companies in Australia, Canada, and South Africa, a"nd not a few of the 150 students-who have graduated under Professor Park hold, highly responsible positions with somo of the leading mining companies with headquarters in London. Professor Park has won the admiration of every student, not for his ability alone, but for his striking character of helpfulness and friendliness. Ho has endeared himself to all of his_ students, and the intense spirit of friendship in his faculty lias been one factor in the signal success of his professorship. The advancement of science has been one of Professor Park’s missions in life, and among the positions which no has held are president and vice-presi-dent of the New Zealand Institute, M.E., president and. vice-president of the Otago Institute, corresponding member of the council of the Mining Institute, London, vice-president of the Otago Astronomical Society, president and vice-president of the Otago Technological Society, and corresponds ing member of the Australian Institute, M.E. He is an hon. member of the Institute, M.N., London, a fellow of the Geological Society, a governor of the New Zealand Institute, a chartered engineer (N.Z.), and was president and vice-president of the Dunedin Athenaeum. . . ' Professor Park’s judgment relating to raining. properties has been- proved singularly accurate and Treil-iouncleu* and from 1900 he has reported on many, properties in New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, Spain, England, and Canada for, mining syndicates. During the war he was appointed to examine and report for the Allies on mining properties in north New South Wales, North Queensland, pear the Gulf of Carpentaria, and in New Caledonia. Altogether thirty-one editions or Professor Park’s books have been published, and most of them are used as text books in universities and engineering schools throughout the world,, as well as by professional men. He has been a most prolific writer, and over 70,000 copies of his books have been sold. It is worthy of note that all his books have been published by the publishers at their expense, this evidencing the renown which the retiring professor has gained in the mining world. His best-known publications are:— * Geology of New . Zealand, 1910,’ , ‘ Theodolite Surveying and Levelling ’ (five editions), ‘ Cyanide Process of Gold Extraction (ten editions), ‘General Geology’ (two editions), ‘Practical Hydraulics’ (two editions), and ‘ Practical. Assaying * (five editions). He has published forty official reports on geological -exploration from 1885 to 1890, bulletins on the geology of the Alexandra, Cromwell Queenstown, Oamaru, and Western Southland districts, and 120 papers of which lie has been the author have been published in scientific journals, on geological, mining, and metallurgical subjects of research. •- Professor Park leaves the Otago School of Mining in a flourishing condition. and witli a proud name as a scientific institution. He has asked that his retirement date from February 29 next. He .was twice married, his second wife being • a daughter or Mr Janies Grey, of St. Clair. He lias seven daughters and three sons—• Messrs Frank L. Park, M. Inst. H.E.,engineer with the Public Works Department at Rotorua; J. Douglas Park, who is 'sheep-farming in the North Island; and Wing-commander Keith Park, who had a. very distinguished flying career during the war, and is now in charge of the* Northern air station in England.