OBITUARY

Forest and Bird, Issue 125, 1 August 1957, Page 9

OBITUARY

DR. WALTER REGINALD BROOK OLIVER M/7 AS a member of the Forest and Bird Protection ” Society since 1923 —our foundation year. Born in Tasmania in 1883 he arrived in New Zealand in 1896 and continued his education at the Tauranga High School and Victoria University College. After working as a Customs Officer for a number of years and serving with the Ist N.Z.E.F. 1915-18 he joined the staff of the Dominion Museum in 1920 and was appointed Director in 1928. He retired in 1947. Dr. Oliver wrote and subsequently revised “N.Z. Birds”, probably the most complete book on that subject ever produced. He also wrote “Genus Coprosma” and “Moas of New Zealand and Australia”, beside numerous . scientific papers. He was the recipient of many high honours including the Hector Medal for Botanical Research 1936 ; he was a member of several Societies including the Royal Society of N.Z. of which he was President 1952-54. By his death New Zealand has lost a foremost ornithologist.

Dr. BERNARD EHRENFRIED MYERS, C.M.G., - M.D., F.R.C.P. D r . MYERS, an endowment member of the Society, in latter years residing in London, was a bird lover and in particular an enthusiast on the birds and forest of New Zealand. Educated .at Wellington College, Auckland Grammar School, Edinburgh University and St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, he served in the Ist N.Z.E.F. as A.D.M.S. and then D.M.S. He was a high officer in the St. John Ambulance and Red Cross Organisations and was the author of “Reminescences of a Physician”. A generous friend to the Forest and Bird Society, just before his death, he sent to us a fine book on British birds, a welcome addition to our library. Unfortunately he died before we could express our thanks.