BITUARY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 41, 12 November 1920, Page 6

BITUARY

SiK DAVID HUTCHI^a. Great regret will be expressed at the. announcement of the death, of Sir David Hutchins. the well-known forestry capei't. which occurred at his residence at Khaudallah last evening. For his years —he was iust over seventy years of ageSir David Hutchins enjoyed remarkable health, and vigour, but he had been ailing for some weeks before his death. Widelv. known and respected in tins country for what he did' to concentrate attention on the urgent necessity of putti.net its forests into a state of permanent productivity, Sir David Hutchins was even better known in Ortfat Britain and other parts of the Empire as a scientific forester of the highest standing. Tie was-one of four members of his profession in the British Empire on whom the honour of knighthood has been conferred in recognition of their services to forestry. After receiving his professional training in the School of Forests, Nancy, Mr. Hutchins, as he then was, entered the Indian Forest Service. Ten years later he transferred to South Africa, where he served for twenty-three years, including a period during which ho established a Forestry Department'- in British East Africa, and ultimately became Chief Conservator. He waß tho author of many reports and other publications on forestry, amongst others, a report to Hie British Government on tho forest* of Cyprus. It was after he had retired from the active pursuit of his 'Profession that ho visited Australia, In 1914. with a British Association party, and remained to compile a very valuable report upon the forest's of the Commonwealth—"Australian Forestry." Subsequently he was prevailed upon by tho New Zealand Government to come to ■this country in ordor to investigate and report upon its native forests and plantations. It is primarily due to his advice and the light he cast on forestry questions in reports which bear witness to his profound knowledge of Ins subiect and untiring spirit of research that the Dominion is uow able to boast a well-organised Forestry Department. Animated at' all times by a remarkable enthusiasm in the pui'suiis to which his life was devoted, Sir David Hutchins at the time of his death was planning a visit to Japan in order to inspect the forests of that country. He had hoped, however, to end his days in New Zealand.