TRIBUTE TO DR. COCKAYNE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1934, Page 5

TRIBUTE TO DR. COCKAYNE

GREAT ORIGINAL LINES OF WORK.

LETTER FROM OFFICER AT KEW.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night.

The Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, has received a letter from Mr. Arthur W. Hill, of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey, paying a tribute to the late Dr. Leonard Cockayne. Mr. Hill, says Dr. Cockayne occupied a very distinguished place -in the estimation of botanical colleagues all over the world on account of his signal services to botany in New Zealand. He had developed new and original lines of work of great scientific interest and importance, continues the letter. He also created and stimulated a vigorous band of research workers who would carry on the work he initiated. His work relating to the prevalence of i;atural hybrids in New Zealand flora had been a revelation to botanists and naturalists, and brought the Dominion into prominence in the scietific world as a botanical region of unexpected importance. No better memorial could be devised for Dr., Cockayne than the Otari Open Air Museum at Wellington. Mr. Hill expressed the hope that its maintenance would be regarded as a perpetual obligation by the Government as an abiding memorial to Dr. Cockayne and his work. He was a true naturalist and a great lover of the country of his adoption to which he gave of his best.

“His spirit of enterprise and enthusiasm in a great cause happily lives on in a devoted band of fellow labourers drawn from many different walks of life who have so kindly entered into his labours, concludes the letter.