HIS CHANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 882, 28 January 1930, Page 11

HIS CHANCE

SIR ERNEST RUTHERFORD’S LUCK SCHOLARSHIP LOST AND WON But for a fellow-student’s nonacceptance of a scholarship awarded to him, New Zealand and the world might have lost one of her most brilliant scientists —Sir Ernest Rutherford. A romantic story is woven round the circumstances under which Sir Ernest got his chance that was to bring him fame as one of the world’s foremost authorities on radio-activity and the disintegration of the atom and upon whom honours from all countries have been showered. But in gaining his chance, anc-lher scientific student, an Aucklander, cast aside the chances of a career that may have been equally as brilliant as his now honoured former colleague. A son of farming people. Sir Ernest Rutherford received his early education at Nelson College, where he applied himself to science, and in 1893 or 1894 it is believed he was engaged in research into Hertzian waves. In the science department of the Auckland University College was an Aucklander, Dr. J. S. Maclaurin, who was experimenting in the science department with the cyanide process in the extraction of gold. Then came the ISSI Science Exhibition Scholarship Examination, for which both Sir Ernest Rutherford and Ur Maclaurin were candidates. Followed the results, which awarded the scholarship to Dr. Maclaurin Sir Ernest Rutherrord being placed second. . . . The winner was then manned, and engaged on experimental work with the then Government analyst in Auckland, Mr. J. A. Pond, and it is believed that on account of his marital obligations he did not take up the scholarship. The authorities then handed the scholarship to Sir Ernest Rutherford, who accepted, went to Cambridge, and so on to fame.