PRESENTATION to DR. HECTOR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 98, 27 April 1877, Page 4

PRESENTATION to DR. HECTOR

InYfche report of the proceedings of the Geological Society of England we read:— The President next handed to Professor Ramsay, P. PS., the Lyell Medal and part of the Lyell Fund, for transmission to James Hector, M.D., F.R.S., Director of the Geological Survey of New Zealand, and addressed him as follows: — Professor Rimsay, — The Lyell Medal I have the pleasure of asking you to forward, on the part of the Council of the Society, to James Hector, M.D., F.R.S., and Director of the geological Survey of New Zealand. It ia giveu (d him in recognition of his long and valuable services in geology and pata mtology both in British North America and in New Zealand, f sventeeu years ago Dr. Hector communicated a valuable report to the British Association for the .Advancement of Science on the geology of the Palliser Expedition, and others on the physical features of Britis'i North America, and on the olimate of the Saskatchewan diatrict; and in 1861 thia Society published his able paper on the geology of Lake Superior. Having gained great experience aa an accomplished surveyor, he commenced hia celebrated survey of New Zealand, and the results of it have been to place the geological formation of those remarkable islands plainly before the world. His geology of Otago, the reports of the survey, and hia geological map of New Zealand — works of great importance — are most valuable contributions to our science. A distinguished naturalist, Dr. Hector has contributed largely to tbe botany of New Zealand and to the study of its river-fish, which have remarkable affinities—as & palaeontologist he has not only described the fossil remains of the gigantic birds, bnt also of the extinct reptilia of the islands. Impressed with the volcanic phenomena still in action, he has studied and written upon the thermal springs, the extinct volcanoes, and the earthquake phenomena. He has been able to compare the grand developments of the formations of the islands with the European types; and his labors have ever been influenced by that method of research which rendered tbe founder of this medal so illustrious. Professor Ramsay, in reply, said: Mr President, — I have very great pleasure in receiving this medal for Dr. Hector, not only on account of his great distinction, but also because we have been so much engaged in questions of physical geology. As a physical geologist, I regard him as standing in the very first rank; and his qualifications have been shown, not only in North America, but also by his thorough organisation of ihe Geological Survey of New Zaaiand, which, under hiß charge, has attained a position second to none in the world. In Dr. Hector's name 1 beg to thank the Society for this testimony of its appreciation of his labors.