RUTHERFORD'S GREATNESS

Chronicle (Levin), 17 December 1949, Page 5

RUTHERFORD'S GREATNESS

■ (N.Z.P,A.~

Reuter .

Family Environment Was Main Infiuence

Copyriaht)

Received Friday 8.50 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 16. Amongthe greatest influences in shaping the scientific career of Lord Rutherford of Nelson — a career comparable in importance to that of Newton and Faraday— was his eariy environment in New Zealand, the education he received ' there, and ahove all the sound training and guidance- • be received from his pioneer parents, said Dr, Ernest Marsden, Scientific Adviser in London to the New Zea land Government delivering the fourth in a series of hiennial Rutherford Memorial Lectures inaugurated hy the Physical Society. The story of Rutherford 's early life and training was interwoven with the'epie story of the colonisation of New Zealand, and particularly of the pro vince of Nelson, said Dr. Alarsden, Lord Rutherford 's grandfather arrived in the infant colony in 1842 from Dundee ano Rutherford 's father, James, grew t(> manhood in the primitjve condition.^ then existing in New Zealand, James Rutherford, and Alarthf. Thompson, the Brightwater school teacher, whom he married, were the best 'type of pioneer settlers, hard-working, God-fearing, and determined to give their children the best possible education open to their limited means and having regard.to the opportunities then available in the colony. • "The Rutherford family was at no •stage a divided house, "-said Dr. Alarsden. "Sunday was a day of complete manual rest when mother would regular ly assemble her family for religious exercises and for general - mutual educa tion sueh as spelling bees and geography which were accompanied by the use of maps to illustrate current ev'ents and news of the outside world contained in the newspapers to liand. . "Thus while Rutherford inherited from his forebears a rich physical and mental endowinent, he was even tnore fortunate in the qnaHties and habits of work acquired from the example of his parents and the atmosphere of his home."

Rutherford 's tather, eontinued uv. Alarsden, as all the evidence of those who knew liim testified, was a man ot great character and fine disposition, while his mother, Alartha was a truly remarkable wOman of good education and character, very musical, a good organiser, thrifty and hard-working, yet above all human and happy in her relations with otliers. Although he early showed remarkable aptitgde Ernest Rutherford 's first scholastic triumph was a scholarship Worth £40 p.a. he gained in 1866, which enabled him to enter Nelson College. He was then, as Dr. Alarsden put it, "tlif pride of Hayelopk primary school," and when three local candidates sat for the examination in a "gingle roorn which cqmprisptL the.. Havelpck iSchpol ^build,., ing, interested residents presented themselves at the door to inquire about their progress.

As Rutherford 's answers were handed up to the supervisor he passed round word that Ernest was doing well but had made a bloomer in such and such a question. "This news dulv cireulated in the hamlet and gloom ensued," said Dr. Alarsden. "Btft Ernest. v/as a quick worker and he had time to look over his answers again and rectify the error with the result that he won the scholarship with record marks."

Rutherford 's period at Nelson College must have created lasting memories, added Dr, "Alarsden, for not only did he incorporate the name Nelson in his title', but within an hour of his death he said to his wife: "I want to leave £100 to Nelson College. You can^ see to it. " And then loudly: "Reme^ber a £100 to Nelson College." He hardly spoke after that. After tracing Rutherford 's further progress from Nelson College to Canterhury TJniversity "College and the subsequent much hetter knovm detalls of his career in Britain and Canada, Dr. Marsden concluded: "I have tried, I hope ohjectively, to indicate that for much of Rutherford 's me thods in his life's work we are indebted to the infiuence of his parents and his home life and the environment in which he was raised — that it to say, his mental- equipment, his sterling character; his abounding energy and enthusiasm, his direct ap-

proach to the problems confronting him, and above all his human characteristics which enabled him to attract and retain a happy and willing band of co-workers. ^ "I feel we need take note of these things in their relation to the development of our educational and social systems since the ''great need of our age is the production of inspiring leader s of which he was an outstanding example in our generation." The Rutherford Memorial Lecture were inaugurated by the Physical Sc eiety in 1942, in which year the first o the series was delivered by Professo H. R. Robinson, F.R.S. of Queen Alar, College, TJniversity of London. The sc cond of the series in 1944 was give by Sir James Cockroft, Director of Br: tain's Atomie Researeh establishmeu at Harwell, and the third in 1946 b Professor Al. L. E. Oliphant, Professo of Physics at the Alanchester and late Birmingham Universities. No lectur was delivered in 1948. All three of these distinguished sciei tists have carried on Lord Rutherford work in atomic researeh, and were ai soeifited with him in his eariy exper ments. So also was Dr. Alarsden wh though not a New Zealander born, hs had a notable career in the New Ze: land Government service in which 1 rose to the positioin of Secretary of tt Department of Scientific and Industri: Researeh before aecepting his presei appointinent in London.