A GEOLOGIST FROM SWEDEN

Evening Star, Issue 21636, 3 February 1934, Page 12

A GEOLOGIST FROM SWEDEN

DR OALQENIUS NOW IN OTAGO INVESTIGATING GLACIAL DEPOSITS This morning a ‘ Star ’ reporter wa* favoured in being granted an inter* view with Dr Carl Caldenius, • who if staying at Leith House, •in Dunedin* The doctor, is lecturer on geology; at the University of Stockholm. • Hal and his wife came to New Zealand ini October, landing in Wellington withl introductions to the _ New Zealand! Government and the university authorities, and, helped by all the aid that) those bodies can give—assistance foq which the doctor is very thankful—haj was able to set to at once on the purpose for which he came to the country] —namely, to do some kind of research) work that is likely to further the study) of the great climatic changes that th« earth is undergoing, as .an attempt to get at the causes of those changes* In particular, Dr is investigating the laminated deposits th’ati have been - left in annual _ layers _ ini glacial-created valleys and in the site* of ancient lakes.

Coming to ’the South Island, that doctor first visited the region of_ thai Southern Alps and made observations* the detail results of which are carefully noted concerning depressions originated by glaciers. For three weeks he explored the' Rakaia Valley, • hia attention to that locality having beep directed by his study of a paper, by, Professor ' Speight, curator of tha Canterbury Museum. Then the doctor; Eroceeded to the West Coast, devoting is attention mainly to the patn of the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, measuring their progress, and > observing the effects of their movements. That part of his work accomplished, Dr Caldenius returned to Christchuch, and from there he and his wife took ther. way’ south to Lakes Pukaki,' Tekapo, and Ohau, camping at each of several localities. The doctor, found in those localities plenty of-ma-terial for his note-book ih_ studying the signs of modern glacier movements, and also the indications of occurrences in. the. remote Ice Age. Whilst in and about Dunedin.'thej doctor intends to spend part of his time with Dr Turner in exploring one of the peat bogs on Swampy Hi|l. Arrangements are' made to begin that work on Monday. That duty : finished, the doctor proposes to journey, to the south-west and explore , in .the neighbourhood of Lake Wakatipu and Lake' ’ Hayes, where Professor Park has pointed out the existence of lake deposits ; left by, glaciers. So far as he can judge, it will be necessary for him to stay in Otago for about two. months longer* ■ In no sense do Dr Caldenius and his wife deem that prolongation of their visit a hardship. They are enjoying New Zealand, finding it worthy in all ways of the high" praise bestowed upon,’ it in Sweden and other countries. “ It is a beautiful land,” said the doctor,' “ profoundly interesting to me, and our; visit is made the more pleasant by ’thai courtesy of your people and the help they are giving me to carry out soma part of a work that will co-ordmat* with other scientific researches.”-