The Globe. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1467, 29 October 1878, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1878.

Professional jealousy oftentimes exceeds in virulence and consistency that which naturally enough, perhaps, is not unfrequently found among tradesmen or business people engaged in securing as much share of public patronage as they can. Here in New Zealand, and let us say in Christchurch especially, we have seen instances of how —whether it be among medical men, engineers, or what not—professional brothers do or do not love one another. Among our colonial scientists, too, if we may be allowed to use the Americanised word, strife and bitterness of spirit have been more the rule than the exception during many years past. The Hectors, Haasts, Bullers and Huttons of the period, all, more or less, have led a band in conti'oversial disputes, where good taste and courteous rejoinders—whether indirectly or by overt acts have been painfully uuapparent. But we are not aware that the public press has often cared to rush into the various breaches effected from time to time by those talented exponents of the marvels of nature. Some days ago, however, the Nelson Colonist, a paper noted for its solidity of views in regard to certain technical subjects, thought well to take up the cudgels on behalf of the so-called popular side of the exciting question in which so many personalities have been interchanged between the two rival professors who thrive on each side of Cook’s Strait, Doctors Hector and Haast, and that, too, in a way which must certainly have astonished the admirers of the former. The article to which we refer purports to review the transactions and proceedings of the New Zealand Institute for the last year, which constitute the tenth volume of the series; and, indeed, we much fear that wo have fair claims for saying that the fine Roman hand of one who should keep his own individual lights under a glass bushel, is more than recognisable in the general tournure of the criticism. This record of scientific inquiry, the Colonist begins by remarking, “ is under the able editorship of Dr. Hector, and while the high character of the publication is fully maintained by the present volume '* * * there must be a feeling of satisfaction that a youug colony is so admirably represented by its studious men, who have no reason to fear the judgment that will bo pronounced on their labours by the learned Societies of Europe, and who sufficiently prove that something more than mere money-making lias a Hold on the dwellers in this distant land.” Now this is a fine exordium, especially + ho end of it, which indeed might have more sniiaVAy i, eon used as the peroration of the whole article, as wo will preseutly show. But who, it will bo asked, are from the writer’s point v j ew those “ studious men who have no reason to fear tho judgment of the learned Societies of Europe?” Indeed we are much afraid that—with the exception of Dr, Hector, himself, at times a Nelson resident—the majority of these “studious men” would fare but badly were tho “ learned Societies of Europe ” to take their cue from what the writer has to say of them. And it is black enough in all conscience, r j. l he editor of the book, wo are informed further on, “ undergoes the persecution of racn whose soli-

tary power seems to bo that of filling a certain number of pages with exploded fallacies or dreary platitudes.” And as an illustration wo are at once told that the first paper—one by Mr. CockburnHood, “ can hardly be road without a suspicion that Dr. Hector directed its insertion in so prominent a place in a spirit of quiet irony.” Very charitable indeed of Dr. Hector, who probably remembers that nothing is more favorable to successful notoriety than well-defined contrasts ! Poor Mr. Cockburu-Hood —one, of course of the “ studious men” about to bo judged by the learned societies of Europe, is disposed of in very few, if tersely pungent words, by being summarily told that ho is “ a complacent twaddler himself a survival, whose fitting place is in a museum among specimens, fossil or otherwise.” Having thus sufficiently paved the way for his real subject of attack, the reviewer then takes off the gloves, and begins his work of demolishing in good earnest the real “studious man” whom he had evidently in his mind’s eye all the time. “An equally shocking example.” ho says, “is afforded by Dr Haast in his Presidential address to the Philosophical Society of Canterbury.” Here wo naturally pause, trembling almost at the thought of what dreadful exposures Canterbury's pet scientist is about to be submitted to. But it is merely “ quiet irony” again. “ The j ambition of this man,” continues the fine Roman hand, “is to spread the belief that he has mastered every branch of human knowledge,” including pitch-and-toss, we presume, as well as manslaughter—and his qualifications may be . estimated by his remarks on the supposed discovery of a new planet, to which the name of Vulcan has been assigned, before its very existence is ascertained. This Doctor ofi Philosophy has the incredible folly to emit the succeeding trash : —‘ Let us hope that the observations in Europe and America will be more successful, so that Vulcan will no longer remain a phantom, but will have joined his wife Venus in the heavens, and both may at last become a steady-going couple.’ ” The writer in the Colonist winds up his outburst of criticism on our “ Doctor of Philosophy,” by giving it as his belief that “if this stuff is really applauded in Canterbury, then its boasted culture amounts to little, while it is certain that any audience in Nelson would hiss the perpetrator off the platform.” Who shall now dispute the oftrepeated assertion that doctors, oven of “ Philosophy,” do at times differ, and that, too, armed cap-a-pie and with all the paraphernalia of modern weapons belted on around their persons F