DR. THEO. MORTENSEN

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 351, 26 January 1915, Page 3

DR. THEO. MORTENSEN

DANISH SCIENTIST IN HASTINGS.

Dr. Theo. Mortensen, brother of Mr. H. G. P. Mortensen, arrived in Hastings last evening. Dr. Mortensen, who is on a two years’ scientific research expedition for the Danish Government, arrived in New Zealand at the beginning of November, after attending a conference of the British Scientific Association in Australia. On arrival in Welling ton he at once started on a visit to the Auckland and Campbell Islands. He was a member of the Swedish Arctic expedition in 19UI. and the visit to these islands gave him an opportunity of connecting up the links between this country and South America. At the islands Dr. Mortensen gained a great deal of valuable information. He made a great many discoveries which are at present unknown to science. In earlier days these islands were the home of the fur seal, but he was sorry to say they had been almost totally exterrninated. There was still evidence that the seal still existed and the greatest care should be taken to protect them. His researches in New Zealand have far exceeded his most sanguine anticipations, and the doctor.is extremely grateful to the New Zealand Government for placing at his disposal the steamers Hinemoa and Amokura and to the valuable assistance rendered by Captains Hooper and Ballance. He is full of admiration for these officers, and thought the Government were lucky in having two such capable men* "An important part of Dr. Mortensen’s research was the tiacing of the development of sea eggs and the artificial rearing of the larval. There are free swimming animals living at the surface of the sea, and his interest in these was to discover how they were distributed by the different currents. This is the first time researches of this kind have been made in New Zealand waters. Speaking generally, as a naturalist, Dr. Mortensen said N. ew Zealand was the most interesting and wonderful country in the world. He was sorry to see the little care that had been taken of the wonder fui animal resorts. Dr. Mortensen said the people ot New Zealand should be educated to know what a magnificent asset they had in their beautiful forests and native bush. He could not undeistaud people planting foreign shrubbery when they had their own lovely native plants. Even the native weeds were being supplanted by foreign growths, which was falsifying Nature. . . Dr Mortensen also visited tjueen Charlotte Sound, and gained a deal of valuable information. . Asked by our reporter as to his impressions of New Zealand, the doctor said he was more than delighted. and would have liked to have spent 12 months instead ot three, but- bis time was limited. _ _ Another thing that struck the visitor was the gradual extinction ot native bird life in New Zealand. He regretted this fact very much, and sa : d that some strong effort should be made by the people themselves to keep intact the wonderful biros that exist, and not to have them only to be seen in museums. After spending a counle of weeks with his brother here, Dr. Morten sen will visit the Hawaiian Islands and California. Dr Mortensen was naturally interested in the present great conflict, and said from letters ne had received from Home, that Denmark was in entire sympathy with Great Britain. At present Denmark would have to remain neutral, as the position thev were in, they were so liable to attack by Germany, and were in no position to defend them selves, but they always depended on Britain to belo them. The Germans had taken a lot of territory from Denmark, but this debt would be paid back some day. Dr. Mortensen further said he was convinced that the F.mrlish language would be the universal language of the world. Up to 25 years ago all historical and scientific works had been printed in German, Italian, trench, and English, but all new publications were now printed in English. Before his departure from Hawke's Bay. Dr. Mortensen wi 1 probable visit Waikaremoana, winch is undoubtedly one of the beauty spots in the Dominion.