THE CAWTHRON INSTITUTE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 16 June 1920, Page 4

THE CAWTHRON INSTITUTE

The magnificent bequest of the late Thomas Gawthron, of Nelson, says the N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology, is likely to exert a great influence upon the future development of the natural • resources of New Zealand, 'fjbc amount of the bequest was approximately £240,000, oi which £40,000 had to be paid in stamp duty. The sum available fox the foundation of an institute of scientific research —for long one ol our greatest needs—was thus sadly reduced. The income, £IO,OOO, out of which a building fund must be allowed to accumulate, is obviously insufficient to allow more than a very few researches to be carried on at a time. The Government has been asked,- therefore, to supplement this income by an annual grant sufficient to compensate for the loss of the sum paid in stamp duty. Before proceeding to establish the 'lnstitute the Trustees appointed a private commission of scientific men to make recommendations as to the plan of action. The commission recommended that the main work of the institute should be -'the performance of an instruction in scientific research/’ ami the recommendation lias been adopted by the Trustees. The Vommissioners, under the chairmanship .of Sir James G. W ilsou. President of the Board of .Agriculture, have consented to continue as an Advisory Board.

The following members of the staff have been appointed -Director : Professor T. 11. Easteriiekl, M.A.. i’ii.D.. Pres. N.Z. Inst., F.1.C., F.C.S. ; Agricultural Chemist: T. Bigg. ALA., M.Sc., 1851 Exhibition Scholar; Biologist and Entomologist; B. J. Tillyard, ALA., D.Sc., F.L.S., Crisp Medallist of the Linnean Society of London, Macieay Fellow of the Liuuean Society of New South Wales: Assistant Entomodgist; A, Pliilpott ; 'Mycologist, and Plant Pathologist'; Kathleen Curtis, M.A., M.Sc., F.L.S., Huxley Research■ Medallist of the Imperial College of Science, London; Curator: W. C. Davis. A very beautiful site has ’been purchased at Annesbrook, two •miles from Nelson, and here the Institute builddig will bo erected, in cA-der that thg* work may be begun at once “bellworth,” a fourtocn-roomed house, has been secured as a temporary home, it is being fitted up with chemical and and a Bbrary, and will be ready, for occupation in May. The members of the staff are already at work jn their various capacities, .though only throe have as vet taken up their residence in Nelson. Dr Tillyard -is visiting England as the representative of • tlio New Zealand. Government at theImperial Conference of Economic Entomologists. He will also visit the United States, Europe, Canada, and Honolulu to make inquiries in the interest of the work of the. Institute. When the staff has settled down in its new quarters it is proposed to establish research scholarships and fellowships of sufficient value to attract honours science graduates of the University to carry but investigations jon-' der the guidance of ’the staff. Since research is the object of the Cawthron foundation, no students will be allowed to work in the Institute who have not already obtained a, good knowledge of at least one science. It is hoped .that the number of these; scholarships will bo extended in the future by benefactions. The idea of 'such a foundation'as'the Cawthron Institute should appeal to those who have dreams and ,see visions of the future development of the Dominion. There am also many other directions in which bequests and donations to the Institute will be of great, value 1. The permanent building will be very, expensive to erect. Gilts _oi monev may be devoted to defraying the cost of special portions of this building, riich as the library, museum, chemical laboratory, and laboratory ot plant • pathology. Such portions of the buildings ' or separate buildings, would, of course, be named after the donors. „ . . 2. The endowment ol new departments, c.g., forestry research, plantbreedlng, pa sturo-improvemenr, stock-Avusfco-product ntuinalion, and animal and plant pathology. 3. The endowment of scholarshix>s and fellowships for special researches 4. Endowments for the library and museum. • Two bequests have already 'been received bv the Institute. Miss Marsden, of Nelson, bequeathed a collection of works of art value at £3OOO, and* Mr McMurtry his collection of scientific books. Quite recently also a very valuable gift'of books has been, made by Lady Hector. These consist chiellv of publications of Qie Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh and of the Linnaeu Society ot London,-and ■ will be invaluable as works of reference, , It,is particularly to be noticed that the Cawthron Trustees do not regarcl the bequest as a local affair. 1 hough the home of the Institute will, bo m Kelson, its interests will be nationwide. Thev consider that the whole Dominion aiid the Empire should benefit by the researches carried out in the Institute and the principles established there. They recognise also that ■here is no line of demarcation between pure and applied science, ano that the pursuit:of the two should g hand in hand if results ..of great economic value are to be obtained, _ The endowment of the Cauthio Institute and the bequest of f ho .. Illt^ Mr Howard of £IOO,OOO tor the ioundation of an agricultural college ‘ us to hope that a now era has dawnc v in the finance of institutions of higbex leaming and of scientie research generally in New Zealand. n