COCKAYNE MEDAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 143, 2 June 1936, Page 7

COCKAYNE MEDAL

Mr J. G. C. Mackenzie, Hastings, Shares Honour HORTICULTURE AWARD By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 2. The council of the Xew Zealand Institute of Horticulture considered two candidates, Mr J. C. C. Mackenzie, ol Hastings, and Mr M. J. O’Sullivan, B.Sc., of Auckland, for the award of the Cockayne Gold Medal for the best student in the diploma examination iu 1935. As the merit of the two candidates appeared to be equal, the exaining board recommended a gold medal for each. This was approved. The New Zealand Institute of Horticulture conducts examinations for th* Diploma of Horticulture over a series of three different examinations, with tho diploma examination as the final, for horticulturists with six years’

training, mainly in botanic and public gardens inth e Dominion. The diploma examination last year was held in November, and covered both ora] and written matter. The medal is awarded as a memorial to the late Dr. L. Cockayne, who was botanist to the New Zealand Government for a gre.'.t many years. Mr Mackenzie was educated at Wellington College, and he received his early training in horticulture at the Botanic Gardens, Dunedin. He went to the Royal Botanic Gardens a* Kew, 7 o gland, where he studied horticulture and at the same time made use of the various facilities in Great Britain for the purpose of gaining further experience. He returned to Wellington to take charge as foreman in the Wellington City Council parks department, and last year he was appointed superintendent of reserves at Hastings. The Cockayne is awarded to the most promising diploma holder and the one to gain the highest marks in the year.