THE HECTOR MEDAL

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1796, 8 July 1913, Page 5

THE HECTOR MEDAL

PRESENTED TO PROFESSOR EASTERFIELD. The interesting ceremony of presenting the Hector media to the winner of it for the year,, Professor Easterfield, was performed by his Excellency the Earl of Liverpool at a lecture hold under the auspices of the Wellington Philosophical Society last evening. The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luk6) presided. Professor C. Chilton, president of the New Zealand Institute, explained thattha Hector medal was provided out of a fund suhsoribadby some of tHe late Sir Jntnes Hector's friends, to commemorate the important work done by Eim in his capacity ts manager of the institute for thirtyfive years. Part of the fund was used to hayo a medal struck, to bo awarded for original research in one of the sciences in rotation in each year. The medal had previously been awarded. to Br. Cockayne lor research in botany, and this year, tho second in, wfhich it hod been awarded, it was to go to Professor Easterfiekl for research in chemistry. His researoh, which had been. u. most valuable one, had dealt with a number of Ndw Zealand plants, which had poisonous qualities. Not only had tho researches been carried out witll great ability and skill, but there was no doubt that as a result of them new, drugs iftsuld be discovered,

The Earl of ,Liverpool then presented the medal, and inivited Professor Easterfield to say something about his work. Professor Easterfiold disclaimed credit for suoh that had been done in his laboratory, saying that the fact was always apt to be overlooked that a great deal of the credit for the trork'done was due to his students and "demonstrators, from whom he "had always received loyal support. He referred with satisfaction to several of his students - who had achieved some success : in original researches, some of which, notably thosO of Mr. B. C. Aston, Government Chemist, had produced results of great commercial .value. A vote of thanks to hda Excellency for presenting the medal was carried by acclamation.