A CELEBRATED NEW ZEALANDER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1059, 23 February 1911, Page 3

A CELEBRATED NEW ZEALANDER.

——— PROFESSOR RUTHERFORD'S SCIENTIFIC WORK. ißy Telccr.ipli,-Special Corrcsponflenl.) Christchurch, February. 21. Jlr. D. C. If. Florance, M.A., M.Sc., who has arrived to act for twelve months as locum tenens for Dr. Farr, Professor of Phj'sics at Canterbury College, is an old student of Canterbury College, where ho spent seven years. About eighteen months ago h? went to England, and continued his course in' Physics at Victor'a University, Manchester, whero ho put in fifteen profitablo months under the guidance of the celebrated Professor E. Rutherford, himself a New Zealandcr. Mr. Floranco is looking forward to returning to his studies thero when, his term is up at Canterbury College. With the. exception of Professor Rutherford thero was but ono other' New Zealander at Victoria University during Mr. Florence's time, and that was Mr. L. H. Harrison,'. M.Sc., also of Canterbury College, who was taking a course in chemistry. • Of Professor Itutherford, Jlr. Floranco spoke: in terms of tho highest praise. "He was not only our tocher," said lie, "but he was also our friend, and ho did everything to .make'our life happy there." The Professor is at present engaged in his experiments in radio activity. He expects to arrive at so mo dcfiriito conclusion regarding the approximate nature of the forces within tho atom. Sir. Florence added that the celebrated New Zealander would bo satisfied at present if ho knew the forces leaving the structure alone. Ho wns (juite confident as tho result of his experiments as to success in the nrar future. "It will bo a definite advancs," remarked Jlr. Floranco. "but I can't say what will bo its definite effect." Men' from all parts of the. world flock to Vic-' toria University because Professor Hiithorford in there—men from tho United Stales, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia; Italy, Germany, and Finland. Professor Rutherford is tho magnet that draws thenx Mr.' Floranco added that tho greater' part of tho actual work was done by the small army of helpers under tho control of Professor Rutherford. His was tho master mind that directed them..