HECTOR RESEARCH MEDAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1920, Page 4

HECTOR RESEARCH MEDAL.

PRESENTATION TO MB. S. PERCYSMITH. Gl REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING. There was a large and representative (fathering of citizens in the' Hempton Koom of the Carnegie Library on Satur. lay afternoon, when a public presentation was made to Mr. S. Percy Smith, b\U.G.S., of the Hector Memorial Medal, for research in Polynesian ethnology. Mr. W. H. Skinner eulogistically referred to Mr. Smith's valuable work in connection with Polynesian research, and said he had been asked by the council of the New Zealand Institute to arrange with the Mayor to make a public presentation. To this auggestion the Mayor had readily consented. He was glad that so many citizens had availed themselves of the invitation, to be present. ' The Mayor (Mr. Jas. Clarke) said that Mr. Percy Smith was .the leading gentleman in ethnology learning, probably in the whole world. In saying this, he meant in the wider sense, for whilst there were many scholars of greater learning in regard to a particular locality, it was generally conceded that for a general graßp of the multitudinous sub-divisions of'the people of the Pftcifio Mr. Percy Smith,was the leatting exponent in the world, Students of ethnology were under a great obligation toJMr. Percy Smith for rescuing from oblivion most valuable materials in the science . of ethnology of the Pacific. He had not only done this, but had lecorded his discoveries in a permanent manner in the Polynesian Journal, a work which Mr. Percy Smith initiated with the formation of the Polynesian Society 29 years ago, and of which he had been editor and translator ever since. As showing how very much Mr. Percy Smith's researches were appreciated by people outside of New Plymouth, Mr. Clarke instanced the case of an American gentleman who was passing through New Plymouth on liis way to Auckland, and who risked missing the boat because, he. said, he couldn't return to America without fir3t having 4 chat with .Mr. Smith. High as was the award Conferred on Mr. Percy Smith, added the Mayor, he was of the opinion that even it was insufficient reward for the great work lie "had done in research ovct a vigorous life. The Mayor then handed the medal to Mr. Smith, with the hope that he would live many more years to continue hi® | researches. A NOTABLE JOURNEY. | Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., addtd his tribute to Mr. Percy Smith's invaluable work in scientific research, and referred to a celebrated journey made by Jtr. Smith and four other Taranaki lads, from New Plymouth overland to Taupo and Rotorua, in the year 1858. Of the party Mr. Smith and Mr. James MfcKtl* j lav, of New Plymouth, wore the only survivors. These enthusiasts, said Mr. Jennings, had made that terrible journey overland for the purpose of becoming acquainted with the natives in their villages, and during the six weeks of travelling they endured, many hardship* and saw only "four white people, all of whom . were missionaries amongst the natives. Mr. Jennings added that he told this story to show what some young .Taraliaki lads had done and the risks they, rail in those early days, in order to. gain » knowledge of the country in which they . lived. Mr. Percy Smith was about 18 years of age at that tirie, and it Waked the beginning of bis researches ill ethnology. . Mr. Percy Smith replied, thanking- th# speakers for their appreciative remarks and expressing his very great pleasure at fieeing so many of his old friends present. His researches had given him a great deal of pleasure, as the study ol Polvnesian ethnology was part of his life. He said it was 05 years since he first interested himself in Polynesian i ethnology. He had found that for his resort rchos into the origin of the Maori irace it was necessary to study thi other Polynesian races of the Pacific, and he recalled one occasion on which he went on an expedition lasting six months, during which time he visited the headquarters of all the principal brandies of the Polynesian race, on purpose to ascertain where ithe Maoris came from originally. As a result of his researches in that expedition he discovered that the Maoris came from Ta. hit! and the Society Islands,, and hia

evidence was accepted as being the actual facts in connection witn tha origin of the Maori race. He discovered that the last of the principal migrations. of the Maoris from Polynesia to New Zealand took place about the middle of the 14th century, but prior to that they had been moving about the Pacific since the 4th century.

Referring to the formation of the Polynesian Society, Mr. Percy. Smith said he found that it was necessary for him to collaborate with others, and

years ago lie sent out from 160 to 200 circulars to various gentlemen, asking their co-operation in forming a Polynesian Research Society. The Te»pq»se was so good that the society Was -it once formed, and they were able to publish a journal each year. In conclusion, he said it was the second time the medal had been- awarded for reseaTch ih ethnology, the former recipient—Mr. Elsdon Best, of the Dominion Museumhaving been an assistant of his in many matters, HISTORY OF THE MEDAL. ~ The Hector medal for scientific research is awarded each year by the council of the New Zealand Institute, and is the highest form of recogntiion which a New Zealand scientist can receive. It is not restricted to Ntw Zealand scientists, but can be awarded to anyone in the British Empire whom th" council feeTs is entitled to the award. The medal has been awarded on eight different occasion)?, on only one ofwhiph has it gone outside the Dominion. The exception was when it was awarded ,to Sir Ernest Rutherford, who, as It happens, is an 6ld TaranaTti boy. On one previous occasion it liafi been awarded for research in ethnology,' the recipient being Mr. Elsdon Best, of the Dominion Museum. The medal was isaued :by the Institute to commemorate the work of Sir James - Hector, K.C.M.G., F.R.S., M.D., and on his death a fund was raised for the purpose of giving a medal every year for reseatch in gome branch of science. The medal, is very handsome. On one side appears An excellent likenesß of Sir James Hector,.and on the reverse side a design emblematical of the various sciences, the central portion showing a native with a taialia in hand approaching a bird. The medal is engraved and produced by a London firm of engravers.