PROFESSOR AND MR. VON HAAST.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2141, 6 May 1914, Page 9

PROFESSOR AND MR. VON HAAST.

Sirj—l' also have followed with great interest the learned and voluminous cor- • respondence that has been appearing in your paper recently between Mr.H. F. vdn Haast and Professor Picken. ■ Sir: Oram'swletter int<- ests me especially-, as I was "tho only other student" in the honours class during ,- Professor 1 Pickeh's first year at Victoria'Cpllego. .. Mr. Oram's memory,' which, aided by his beloved text books, placed 'him in. the proud'position-.lie mentions, proves faulty with of,, years.....This- . "only dthcr'{,6t!idei)it''irdidl;n.ot la.il. ,A»ti:, accident which occurred on the eve of tho honours examination prevented' her from sitting, and.no doubt from failing,, as she had foolishly (?) departed from tho ; broad and flowery path of text book paragraphs marked "Important for examination and had become imbued with a certain enthusiasm for mathematical ideas, and the much-dis-cussed "inwardness" of the mathematical fundamentals. I do not wish to pose as a champion of Professor Pickeiij but his notes, which remain one of ray most treasured possessions, aro models of clearness and con- . nected thought. Although only an "ordinary" student, I cannot understand anyone being bewildered and dazed, and ultimately reduced to a state of coma bv his thorough method of dealing with all branches of the subject. My only regret is that it was at the end, and not at tho heginnine, of my course that I was given a glimp'se of the true significance of that great and far-reaching subject—mathematics.—l 1 am, etc., '' ELLEN MAY MOORE. (Nee Hildreth.) Palmcrston North, May 18, 1914. .