THE BIRTHDAY HONORS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 177, 5 January 1915, Page 6

THE BIRTHDAY HONORS.

SIR JAMES WILSON, IvT. The honor conferred upon Sir .Tames Glcnny Wilson is no doubt intended as a recognition of the untiring energy Jic has displayed in the interests of the farming industry in New Zealand, to which lie has rendered probably greater service than any other one man (says the Dominion.) Ever since the scheme to form the Farmers' Union was set afoot, the name of Mr J. G. Wilson has been associated with it, and he has 7or many years been Dominion president of the Union. FJor many years he has also been an active worker for agricultural and pastoral associations. He was one of those who urged the holding of regular conferences of delegates and the setting up of a council, and since the conference has been held, he has been one of those, whose advice has been most frequently sought and most readily accepted by members. lie it was wdio encouraged the. Government to extend the activities of the Agricultural Department, which already had experimental farms, to make its work in experimenting with soils and fertilisers more readily accessible to farmers. He argued that few farmers could visit the experimental farms, and that even if they did the experiments there might not be of value to them in their own farming operations in another district. The result of representations made, chiefly through Mr Wilson, was the institution of the system now familiar of conducting experiments in many farming districts in what are known as "cross road plots." For these experiments, the Government provides seed and manures, and the work is done by the farmers themselves. The scheme has grown from small beginnings, until now tliero are some hundreds of plots in existence, and the usefulness of the scheme has been proved. Recognising the importance of th« farming industry in New Zealand, M', Wilson always contended that the State should do more than it did to train young people for farming pursuits, and he was therefore always a consistent advocate of agricultural education, not only at special agricultural colleges, but at ordinary primary and secondary schools. It is no doubt within the knowledge, of everybody that a great deal more attention is now given to agriculture in our schools than hail been the rule previously. In 1914 Sir James Wilson was made the first president of the Board of Agriculture, a body with advisory powers only, set up to assist the Minister in guiding the policy of the Agricultural Department.

'Mr Wilson was one of the founders of the New Zealand Farmers' Distributing Company, a co-operative organisation, of which lie is now chairman cf.directors. He is also chairman of directors of the Foxton-Sandon Tramway, a light local railway which has served its district well. He has taken an active interest in local government, and lie is a member of the Manawatu County Council, and the Palmerston Hospital Board|

Sir .Tames Wilson was born at Hawick in 1840, and educated at Bruce Castle, London University, and Edin burgh University. He decided to try his fortunes in the colonies, and landed in Victoria in 1870. Four years later lie came to New Zealand and practically ever since he has been sheep-farming in the Rangitikei district. He has had considerable experience as a Parliamentarian, having sat as a member of the House of Representatives for the constituencies of Foxton (1882-1890), Palmerston North (1890-02), and Otaki (1803-96).

MR G. HOGBEN, C.M.G.

Mr G. Hogben was born in 1853, educated at the Congregational School, Lewisham, and the University School, Nottingham. He was awarded the gold medal of tlie Royal Geographical Society in 1871. After leaving school, he entered the English Civil Service, and attained the position of junior auditor in the Accountant and Auditor-General's Department. He left the service to enter Cambridge University, where ihe graduated B.A. in 1877 and M.A. in 1-881. He was mathematical scholar and prizeman at St. Catherine's College, Cambridge, and also Exhibitioner of the Goldsmith's Company, finally graduating with first-class honors in mathematics.

Mr Hogben entered the teaching profession as mathematical and science master at Oldenham Grammar School, to which appointment he went immediately on leaving Cambridge. He wsa selected by Commissioners in England to be mathematical and science master at tlie Cliristehurch High School, j when the school was founded in ISSI. j He held that post until 18S6, in which year he was made Inspector of Schools in North Canterbury under the North | Canterbury Education Board. In 1880 he was appointed headmaster of the. Timarit High School, and he had control of that school until 1899, when lie was appointed Inspector-General of Schools and Secretary for Education. This position Mr Hogben lias held ever since, and the years have not been idle ones for him. Several Education Bills have been passed by Parliament making very important changes in the New Zealand system of education, both on the administrative and purely educational side, It may be assumed that Mr Hogben, as chief expert for the Department, has had more than a little to do with fee framing of those Bills. Mr Hogben has held office in numerous education and scientific societies. He was president of the New Zealand Educational Institute in 1886, President of the Canterbury Philosophical Society in 1887, secretary from 1891 until the present time of the Seismological Committee of the. Australasian Association, president of the, Home Reading Union for several years, and lie is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London. 110 represented New Zealand at the Em- j pire Education Conference in London in 1907, at the International Conference of I School Hygiene, the International con- j ference. of the Teaching of the Deaf, and I the International. Conference on Moral Education, all in the same year.

Among the best known of Mr Hogben's publications is a French text book, "Methode Naturelle," for the use of school classes. He has also written numbers of papers on earthquakes, of which phenomena he has made a special study.