Mr Alex. M. Paterson, M.R.C.V.S.

Southland Times, Issue 18058, 30 January 1903, Page 3

Mr Alex. M. Paterson, M.R.C.V.S.

With a view to the prospective appointment. of Mr A. M. Paterson to the position :tißt;.; ! ye : U^a^. .\Burgeon and organiser of the Southland branch of the Sygtj l^Miners- Union,, an appointment wWf^ iy the way regujres only Mr Paterjton^ft^notincation of acceptance to be confir^wF we gi^e a brief sketch of the gentleman's professional career which should be of interest to those of our readers, : who " are connected with the farming fraternity of Southlandi

'::. Mr. Paterson was born near / Balmoral Castle, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and

was j brought up -; in the : village of Ballater,; / wliere r Ids father- followed farming pursuits. ■.V-.H^ pearly showed uausual aptitude la the veterinary branch of agricul- , ture, ;~»n<L;:when^ attending ; ;.;the Ballater school and later a school near Aberdeen he commented studying in order to follow a course in the veterinary college. Though studying very closely, the theoretical principles of . /veterinary science with the i object stated, lie .neglected no opportunity^ £f ; putting his knowledge into practice, and judging from the testimonials ol Ballater residents "^he^ lad applied his science to. cases of emergency with marked, > ability, showing that he grasped his otudies thoroughly. In due time Mr Paterson went to' Dick's Royal Veterinary College, Edinburgh, the- oldest and most famed veterinary' college in the British Isles. It may be incidentally mentioned that there are' two veterinary colleges in '" Edinburgh^ one in London, arid one in Dublin. After he had taken his course there Mr Fatereon assisted several of the yets, in their duties, and some idea of nls exceptional capability, and; desire to ; improve^ may. be gleaned from, the tact that while , a student he availed himself of the opportunity of learning the practical part "of his. profession tt? accompanying i£r Robert Dawuon, M^B;d.y.S;V of . , Stratnaon, in his daily rounds • and taking 'an active part in "itj^ treatment pi all^ cases under Mr Dawsbn's : care.. .'During .a severe attac* of illness /which : prostrated the latter gentleman the young, student " managed Mr Dawson's entire practice with great Buccess/' ■ to.: U9© ."that"; yet.'s own swords. After " his course at the' college, during which Hfx-. Paiersoir waa ; awarded, j; in . addition to other ; medals and prizes, the bursßjy/for .haying, gained the highest aggregate number of marts during: that period, thus tcsitifying to ;iiis all-round aDility; he^ t^> '^pointed for : a specified time V«s / petitioner ; V -in the district "of Durris, - near Aberdeen, and the testimonials t>y ; those, competent to juo^e; proved tnat the conndenco and admiration of his patrons in ?|Ji«^asmc4! > s ;^Snen his time in Durris expired 3Cr Paterson, /who desired to enVarge his i 'practical went to America, 'and: /toured the whole of the States With the- eiciception of Nevada in .'tne^Kortjh" vTVeisfc.,, * .He, there did a large ambubt ot-wprk in .California and Texas, wfcidtalat^iStat^^ to Benefit "by^the: great/'- scope- / afforded there 'for prairie work."" Whilsi in the; States Mr : Paterson came into contact with the most lambuS* 6t 4 ; American veterinariansv but the mtax.-trpja whom, he. gained; most information; and who '(_■ iiripressed ;him as being the highest in the profession was Caesor Massoerq, : an Italian professor who has established and carried on with distinguished success a splendid hospital In^San/JPrancisco. This: man- had a gen-lusj-|&^^yenti^^perating instruments wUcftJ^'^ULsed-'withV' conspicuous talent. . Mr Patersdn founcl;^i^nec^sary to .-return to Scotland, and al^oirt j a^" sooii. as' he had landed he -was ;' ;appointedCto -'&; "'district clpsi-feieAberdeiui, . wlU6h^ included C^y^Wpn^^skj|md^arv'^md Echt. For :.nv« /years; he laboured here and considerably" extended his district. But the work, which was crowded into the winter, and spring, months, was heavy and arduous,, and mi; these ;> seasons;, the vet. wil^t mo^unfav^^ ' amplb/of the wbrfcfxequired we niay state that "during^ bne^Chiistmas weefc/-;whlch is: winttr time ait" Home, Mr i'aterson had roily four hours ia his bed,^.ftna^for a considerable portion of ,the "linie 1 he was at work in that week he was flrentisem^o^^yl^g^applications from men cbffip^tetft£to ;fiU "the; position of veterinarian^ v l6r?theVNew. Zealand Government came under "his notice, and on the impulse of the ; moment" he put- in an application which was accepted. He therefore ■ k^^A^^^^^'M'^^ 1 ' tind for ,t^|r«a^P*P9^O^^ f the time which Mr Paterson has spent in the colony he has been in Southland. Of course Sir PaterBO^tfras^wili^^^seenby /the heading of th^iirticle^ mieanber of the Royal Colle^"«f: '.Ve]tertn«y Surgeons, iiie coveted diploma for which he gained in IJB9O. He has an enormous sheaf of certificates . and diplomas from various : .t_; associations and inrt^ijteß^ -?»*** ; establish^ bis practical and scicntiuc a^-round veteriiiary and ag^cultural expert. As an indication of his standing in this respect it may be noted that in an examination for' which nearly 5000 students; presented themselves there ; /were three XflrSt-class ce^^^tes' giyea; o| which Mr Paterson gtinW one. The; I^stimonials, tbp,; which Mr^atersqn pbsswsesi stamp him as -not onjis^imaii of eMeptipnar nterit^ in his prbflss^on' and as Jiecturer J>ut as a, - man^if^ cosmopolitan I taste's and wide sympathy, while his industrious habits and sociability are well known to themany Southlanders who have come "-into contact with him during his sojourn hereIt will thus be seen that Mr Paterson has gained high honours in his profession, anil tW* is the more creditable in that during his college career he was haippered by defective eyesight. As the holder, of the college bursary Mr Paterson; was entitled to enter for /what is; kno%n as the FitzSV agram prize, competi? tion for -which was open to the two Wgheat Btudenta from each or the British

colleges, but as one of the testa for this necessitated ieen eyesight. Mr Paterson knew he would fail in this respect and SO stood aside that one of his fello\v9 might have an opportunity of carrying off the prize. After leaving the college Mr Paterson was fortunate enough to find a specialist who was able to correct his eyesight.

(Since the abovje was written Mr Paterson has intimated his acceptance of the Southland Executives offer. Although hi 9 agreement with the Government does not really expire until the middle of February Mr Paterson has been enabled by the consent of the Minister for Agriculture to be in a position to take up the duties of his new office on Monday, and the Southland branch of the Union are to be congratulated on their success in this matter,.)