SCIENTISTS AT WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13649, 17 January 1908, Page 7

SCIENTISTS AT WORK.

TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK.

DR. COCKAYNE'S RESEARCHES.

Two men of science and a surveyor, who are leaving' to probe among the rocks thrown up by Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, and Euapehu, are taking with them enough equipment to stock a store (says the Weilington Dominion). Dr. L. Cockayne, F.L.S., who goes to make a biological survey of the Tongariro National Park, which he expects will occupy two months, is burdened with two cameras, a half-plate and a four-by-five, about one hundred pounds weight of newspapers, required for drying plants, and no less than two gross of bottles, in which specimens that it is desired to preserve uninjured for later microscopic examination will be kept in spirits. Mr. B. Speight, F.G.S., of Christ-church, who will accompany the doctor for a week or two to study the geology of the district, is also carrying a camera, and a fourth is being taken by the assistant of Mr. Phillips Turner, who will make a topographical survey of the great park for the Government, Air. Joiuxlaiu, secretary of the .Scenery Preservation Board, is accompanying the party. Four or five Maoris will be added to the number.

Dr. Cockayne's mission, it was learned in an interview with hun, is both scientific and economic. It any individual scientist has taken notes of the botanical measures of the Tongariro National Park he has never printed tlicjn, so that they are still to all intents and purposes undiscovered. The park contains 10u,0U0 items, so that, ite scientific exploration should be fertilein results. An interesting subject for investigation is the relation between the chemicals in the soil of the volcanic regions, and the structure, form, and distribution of their plants. . Another interesting point which Dr. Cockayne would be glad to establish is the existence of the Jogania, a, snmll shrub, resembling a veronica. Uiis plant was discovered in the distant 'forties by Colenso, and a dried specimen cent Home to Kew, where it was &een and described by the great Hooker, rjince that day no scientist has seen the loganta m New Zealand, and it is just possible that the dried specimen is not a loganta at all, but only a species of veronica. The discovery of the logania in iNew Zealand would be another indication oi an ancient land connection between this country and Australia, but that fact is now attested by so great a weight of other evidence that the logania is not needed as a witness. On the economic side Dr. Cockayne will make a special study of the grasses of the mountain pastures. Such pastures are an important asset of New Zealand, and a knowledge of their grasses and ol how the pastures can be improved is < of the utmost importance to the Dominion.

The party go as far as Waiouru by train, and then drive to the Half-Way ■House, where horses are changed on the load to Taupo. From there they will proceed with pack-horses, and a fixed camp will be established somewhere near the hut on Ruapehu. Flying camps will be pitched in the surrounding district during the process of its survey, and wfcjn the arid district on the east side of the mountain has been thoroughy explored, headquarters will be shifted to the west side, where the vegetation is' much more luxuriant, and botanical researches will have special interest, since this district lies in the route of the Main Trunk railway, which will soon be largely used, by tourists. The Tongariro National Park bids fair to be one of the most important parts, of New Zealand from the tourists' point of viow, and Dr. Cockayne hopes to do , a good deal to make it better known. At the same time Mr. Phillips T.yrner will map out the proper boundaries of the park, which has never yet been surveyed, The importance, of such scientific work as Dr. Cockayne is doing for the Government is recognised by The .Plant World, an American scientific journal of high standing, which, in a recent issue, says;—"At the instigation of Dr. L. Cockayne, the well-known New Zealand botanist, the Board of Governors of Canteibuiy College has decided to establish a sub-alpine station in the Southern Alps of Now Zealand« where the mountain flora can.be studied under natural conditions. This, it may be believed, is the most important step in botanical teaching and investigation which has yet been taken in Australasia. Dr. Cockayne is the author of a report on the botany of Kapiti Island, rightly regarded as a natural history sanctuary in that part of the world. It is much to be hoped that work so well commenced will be extended to the whole of New Zealand, and that the Government will exercise wisdom and foresight in affording means for the continuation of the survev. The present active interest on the part of the Government in enabling a large body of scientists to visit otherwise more or less inaccessible parts, such as the Auckland and Campbell Islands, indicates a real and proper concern on the Government's' oart in the progress of pure science, which, we believe and hope, will be productive of suseffort along the lines indicated. New Zealand contains so many secrets which the scientific world is eager for, and there must be so very much of great economic importance to be discovered, that no effort should be spared for their disclosure by competent men."