SCOTTISH SOCIETY

Southland Times, Issue 21198, 26 September 1930, Page 4

SCOTTISH SOCIETY

ADDRESS BY DR. UTTLEY. FAMOUS SCOTTISH SCIENTISTS. A large number of people assembled in Smith's Hall last evening when an interesting and educative lecture entitled ‘ Some Scottish Scientists” was delivered by the rector of the Southland Boys' High School (Dr. G. H. Uttley) under the auspices of St. Andrew’s Scottish Society. The chief (Mr J. L. McG. Watson) occupied the chair and introduced the speaker. <, Dr. Uttley first referred to the theory of evolution. Some people thought evolution was true, while others held the opposite opinion. Scotsmen had played a large part in the development of the theory, and it was they who had paved the way for Charles Darwin to give it to the world. Science was a study which demanded facts. If antiquity were probed it would be found that the people then had guessed at evolution. The first man who had considered actual facts in relation to geology’, which had to do with the theory of evolution, was James Hutton, the son of an Edinburgh merchant. Hutton had graduated from the University of Leyden in the faculty of medicine and, becoming a man of independent means, he had turned to geology as a study. Hutton was persuaded by certain of his scientific friends to put his views in book form) but the book when published, received a poor reception, due to a number of causes. Hutton, in liis journeyings, had studied banks of rivers and observed the workings of nature, which forced him to the conclusion that the earth was being carried to the bed of the sea. In his book he had stated that that process had been going on for a great number of years. In association with Hutton, continued the speaker, were two other famous Scottish scientists, Playfair and Sir John Hall. These two men had assisted Hutton and experimental geology was founded. An English scientist, William Smith, came to the conclusion that the earth and sea were changing places, but he stressed the fact that a long period of time had elapsed during those changes. Another famous Scottish scientist, Sir Charles Lyell, who had travelled extensively, everywhere, found confirmation of Hutton’s work. Lyell studied the strata of the earth and the fossils found thereon and discovered that the fossils in the higher strata (near the earth’s surface) were like the animals of to-day, the fossils further down were more unlike modern animals while those at. the bottom were the remains of creatures ol which the present people knew nothing. The lecturer then instanced the Grand Canyon of Colorado. The fossils in the lower strata possessed five toes, but. at each succeeding strata the outside toes became smaller until the form of a hoof of a horse was assumed. All that went to show that life was undergoing a change. Lyell was

the founder of historical geology. Dr. Uttley went on to say that many people had objected to the theory that time was illimitable. The next man to appear on the scehe was Lord Kelvin (then William Thompson) who ranked with the greatest scientists of the world. Lord Kelvin was interested in the physical side of science, electricity. He was a practical electrical engineer as well as a physicist. Lord Kelvin put forward the contention that he could calculate the age of the earth in a rough manner. The earth was cooling at a certain rate and he could find its age by means of a proportion sum. Lord Kelvin’s result was 40,000,000 years, but' he later reduced the estimate to 20,000,000 years. That announcement had come as a bombshell to scientists and biologists. He admitted, however, that other forces might have been at work. The work of a famous New Zealander, Sir Ernest Rutherford, went to show that the earth was older than what Lord Kelvin had said. Charles Darwin, said the lecturer was connected with Scotland in that he studied at Edinburgh University. Darwin had made a trip round the world, taking with him a book by Sir Charles Lyell. On his return to England he himself produced “The Origin of Species.” In it he discussed the question of former animals being lower than their successors and stated that the changing environment had altered the animals. Animals which were stronger would live and’ reproduce their kind, thus the survival of the fittest and the production of a new race. Darwin had admitted that he was indebted to Sir Charles Lyell. Die theory of evolution had since been discussed anti had permeated everywhere. Dr. Uttley submitted that it was not opposed to religion and indeed it would be one of the bulwarks of religion. He concluded his address by quoting from an English divine, Canon Wilson, who found that evolution was not opposed to religion. At the conclusion of his lecture a hearty of vote of thanks to Dr. Uttley was carried. The musical programme given was as follows: Song, Miss Simon; recitation, Mr A. Credgington; song, Mr R. Waterson; song, Mr I’. Tait; duet. Misses B. Adamson and J. Donald; song, Miss E. King. The accompaniste was Miss M. Barty.