THE LATE MR BEVERLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14048, 31 October 1907, Page 2

THE LATE MR BEVERLY.

AN APPRECIATION. The following appreciation oE the lato Mr Beverly, telegraphed from Gisborno, appeared in tho New Zealand Times on Monday last from tho pon of Sir Robert Stout:— " In the passing away of Arthur Bevorly, of Bunsdin, New Zealand lias lost its mo* eminent scientific man. Eβ was eminent not in one branch, but in many branches, of eoienoe. Hβ was a botanist, a geologist, an astronomer, a. mechanician, and a mathematician, and with all tho knowledge and skill none so-nibdwt as Arthur Beverly. Hβ was born in Aberdeen, and at & very oarly ago lost his father, and, like many Scotch boys, bo had to go to work early to help his mother. Ho had not the advantage of much schooling. Whilst very young and at work he was vory. fond of going into the field to observoiflmvers, insects, etc. He had a fireafc desiro to become acquainted with insect life; but he could not afford a hook on entomology. One day, however, ho caw in a (second-hand bookßtall a French took on the subject, and taught it for a pent'", but he did not know French. Next week he picked up a. French grammar for a penny, and later got a dictionary, for twopence. Thk helped Mm so that he might read tho French book on entomology. "Mr Beverly learned watchmaking in Aberdeen, and later wont to London, wlicro for some time ho worked nt his trade. Afterwards he emigrated to Victoria, and wont lo the diggings, but was not successful. Then lie sought work in Melbourne at his trade. I wae told by' tho late'Mr William Straehan, who know him well in Melbourne and New Zealand, tHiat. whilst in Melbourne a shipmaster. brought to Mr Beverly's omployor a chronometer to be repaired. _ Tho watchmaker said it could not bo repaired in Melbourne,, and the shipmaster had bettor take. it back to England with him. Mr Beverly asked to sob it. and said he thought he could repair it. Tho employer said if ho damaged the instrument ho.would have to pay its value. Mr Beverly repaired it successfully, and his employer then discovered ho had an oxnert in his service. Somo time afterwards Mr Beverly determined to go to Now Zealand. His employer tried, vainly, to dissuade him, and offered him permanent cmploymont nnd higher wages to remain. Mr Beverly reached Ofago towards tho end of tho -'fifties. In Now Zealand hk old lovo of natural history reasserted itself, and ho attained groat knowledge of Now Zealand planls. When Dr Betrgeren, of Upsala University, visited Now Zealand to study eryptogmmic plants, ho was recommended to.see Mr Beverly. Thoy made manv excursions in tho hush together, and Dγ Beggeron afterwards stated that ho had met no man with such a knowledge of this class of plants as Mr Beverly. I medo many excursions wit]] him in tho bush. It wae dolishtful tc have him as a companion. Ho know every plant and troo and its allies in othci countries. I published some notes of oui excursions over 30 yeare ago. » " Mr Beverly excelled not only in Tioiany He-was a great astronomer. Ho made hi own telescopo, a 4in instrument. He oh served' the second transit, of Venus, and hi observations, wore received by the Eoya Astronomical Society. The Englifil

ostronomons got him to mend and fix up tWr .instruments in 'Canterbury, where they tool: their observations. Ho had an accurate knowledge nf f.bo m.i.f!>- , »'"*~ "F "fitronomy. He not only knew all tho constellations, but ho was woll . an« « at mnnorous astronomical problems that were being discussed by astronomers of other countries. I remember when Roscool's book on the spectroscope was published Mr Beverly Baying that it would oponl up a, new iield in astronomy. He himself constructed a si/eetroseopo bofore, I l>elievo, nny armed in Now Zealand. Ho was also profoundly interested in geology, and when cold was said to have been discovered in tho Lindis Pass Jtc wont from Duncdin to inspect the placo. This was boforo tho discovery of Gabriel's Gully in 1861. Hβ camo to tho concte-iqn it would not be Kold-proclnoini;, and ho was right. "Mr Beverly waa a (rrcat mechanician. Ho hwented the pla.nhncter, which, with improvemanta by a Swis3 mechanician, is now used by every survey office in tho Dominion. Ho' constructed a. clock which is wound up by the variation of atmospheric pressure on tho principle of the aneroid barometer. This clock was exlitbitcd at tlio Exhibition of 1865, and went for inany yeara without .oven being oiled. Tile elude \a still in. Diuicdin, and is goins. Ho also invented a clock cseapemout, and many other mochanical contrivances. ] mmomber tho lato Mr W. Reid Douglas, T/io wae a skilled mechanician, telling m< feat he visited tho Society of Art

Museum. Going round tho exhibit with tho curator, ho observed several exhibits of Mr Beverly's inventions. Tho curator asked Mr Douglas if ho know Mr Beverly, and where ho was. Mr Douglas said, 'Why do jttu ask!' The curator replied that there were 6ovoral prizes that had been awarded Mr Boverly, and thoy did not know where to find him. Mr Douglas told him, and tho curator wrote to Mr Beverly tellinjr him of tho prizes awarded him. Mr Bevorly replied that he did not require the money, and tho sqoiotv had better offer prizes for moro inventions. Mr Beverly contributed many articles to till© press on astronomy, on mechanics, and " hydraulics. Several of his articles appeared "" in the English Mechanic. Ho prepared a book of geomotri"' problems, which at ono timo ho intendea to publish, but his dislike of publicity—which grow on him as are advanced—has prevented it secmc the light. Moro than one mathematician has (old me that tihoy wore original and able. Everybody who cam© in contact with him felt that ho was a genius. I specially re-' member a high compliment paid to him by ttic_ Rsv. Frank Simmons, rector of tho Dunedin Hisdi School, qvor 40 years ago. a Mr Simmons was lecturing in tho Oddfellows' Hall, GearßO street, Dnnodin, and, -speaking of colonial life, ho said: 'Wo 1 Jiavc' amongst, ra a man of genius who, if ' he were in London, would to made much | of, but whoso inherent modesty and our j lack of appreciation have left unknown in our midst.' Mr Beverly may ho said to havo bad throo hobbies—an intense lovo of 'gardening and of flowors and shrubs and trees, a. fondness for geometrical problems, and. inpohaiu'c3, Ho \ias kin<!i)CS3 personi- , Rod-. Ho helped ira-ny. Above all, his greatest characteristic w cxtremo modesty. No ono who came into close contaofc with him but revered him. He was always helpM to any student who desired aid. Hi/5 life was an example of what thrift and solf-oducation may accomplish, and I fcol sure that all who know liim will keep him in lasting remembrance." I■ . ,