PROFESSOR BICKERTON

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 570, 24 January 1929, Page 1

PROFESSOR BICKERTON

DEATH ANNOUNCED FROM LONDON (United P.A. —By Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian and .V.Z. Press Association/ (United Service) Reed. 0.5 am. LONDON", Wednesday The death has occurred of Professor Alexander William Bickerton, at the age of 87. The newspapers publish loog obituaries of Professor Bickerton featuring the reasons for his dismjsal from the New- Zealand University and his vindication a quarter of a century later. The late Professor Bickerton was born in England on January 7, I S!J He came to New- Zealand as a young man. and for J ears w aK Professor of Physics at Canterbury l mversity College. He- was an unorthodox teacher, and his frequentlyexpressed opinions concerning contro- ' ersial subjects led to his resignation from the college staff. Keenly interested in astronomy. Prolessor Bickerton. during the years he was in New Zealand, evolved a theory concerning the creation of new astral bodies, which he called the cosmic impact theory. In this, he contended that new stars were created through collisions between older ones, and although it was as first laughed at. Professor Bickerton had of recent years had the satisfaction of partial vindication. He wrote authoritative works on many subjects, and was a member of manv scientific associations. His second wife was a New Zealander, and one son is at present Government analyst at Christchurch. A grandson la verity SS ° r ° f Knerlish at a Ja P.anese Uni-