DEATH OF SIR JULIUS VON HAAST.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1622, 18 August 1887, Page 4

DEATH OF SIR JULIUS VON HAAST.

Christchurch, Aug. 16.

Sir Julius Von Haast died suddenly this morning. He wae apparently well yesterday, and went in the evening to a lecture at the Philosophical Institute where ho complained of feeling ill. He went home and went to bed, Dr Prins prescribed for him, and he apparently went to sleep about half past one. Lady Von Haast noticed him breathing heavily and sent for Dr Symes, hut when he came Sir Julius was dead. He was 63 years old.

The following notice of the deceased gentleman is from “ Men of Mark of New Zealand”:- “Haast, Professor Julius Von, K.0.M.G., Ph.D., F.R.S., P.L.S., F.G.S., C.M.Z.S, Professor Haast was born at Bonn, Germany, Ist May, 1824, his father being a merchant of that city, and for many years occupying the position of Burgomaster. After passing through the Grammar schools of Bonn and Cologne, he entered the University of Bonn, and devoted a considerable portion of his time to geological and mineralogical studies, forming a collection of minerals, which in a recent review of his work in the Qer* man Die Natur, is described as being of considerable value. After leaving the University he spent some years in France, and afterwards returned to Germany. For eight years previous to his departure for New "Zealand, he made extensive journeys over the chief parts of Europe, visiting Russia, Austria, and Italy. A large part of these journeys was spent in in mountain explorations ; and during the eruption of Mount Etna, in 1852, he ascended tho mountain for scientific purposes. Dr Von Haast arrived in Auckland in 1858, where he met Dr Hochstetter, a distinguished member of the staff of tho celebrated ‘Novara’ expedition. As Dr Hochstetter’s companion, he visited a great part of the North Island south of Auckland, and a portion of Nelson, writing ful' reports of all be saw to the leading German periodicals. At the request of the Provincial Government of Nelson, ha then started on an expedition to explore the western and southern portion of this province. During this journey, in addition to the discovery of the Grey and Buller coalfields, and of several gold-bear-ing districts, he filled in the topography of a largo part of Nelson, and added largely to the knowledge of the geology as well as of the fauna and flora of these alpine regions of New Zealand. On his return, the Government printed a full report of the journey and of the scientific and other discoveries made. In the beginning of 1861 Dr Von Haast was appointed Provincial Geologist of Canterbury ; and during a number of years he devoted about six or eiffht months of the year to the investigation of the physical geography and geology of that province, to which at that time the county of Westland belonged. The result was the publication of the ‘ Geology of the Provinces of Canteibury and Westland,’ a work well known to his fellow colonists, and highly appreciated by the scientific world. Reports and papers on the Geology and Physical Geography of Canterbury were from time to time forwarded by Dr Von Haast lo the Geological and Royal Geographical Societies of London, and were printed in their ‘Transactions.’ During the explorations at the head of the Ashburton River, and in the neighborhood of Mount Cook, glaciers were first encountered—a discovery that (he non-scientific world was somewhat slow in admitting. In recognition of his services, the Royal University of Tubingen created him a Doctor of Philosophy in 1862. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1867. Some fifty academic and learned societies in various parts of the world have elected him a fellow or honorary or corresponding member. The Emperor of Austria has conferred upon him a patent of hereditary nobility, a number of sovereigns of Europe have sent him their orders, and Her Majesty has lately created him K.C.M.G. In 1863 he furnished a valuable report on the question of artesian wells, predicting that an almost inexhaustible supply of good water would be obtained by deep borings in Christchurch. During his explorations as Provincial Geologist, he commenced the formation of the Canterbury Museum—the first museum of the Southern Hemisphere. The entire collection numbers 80me150,000 labelled specimens, thousands of which are of great rarity and value, and many are quite unique. The museum is a monument of his labors, and renders him deserving of the gratitude of the people of New Zealand. Dr Yon Haast has taken a great an active interest in higher education ; he, together with Bishop Harper, of Christchurch, founded the Canterbury Collegiate Union, 1872, Prom this small beginning 'he Canterbury College was institu'ed, and affiliated to the Naw Zealand Ui iwsity, of which he is a Fellow and a Member of the Senate. In Canterbury College Dr Von Haast was Professor of Geology and Palaeontology, He was on the General Committee of the ‘Art Exhibition of Canterbury, 1870.’ He was also a contributor to the Paris Exhibition, having, with Mr Dobson, then Provincial Engineer lo the Province of Canterbury, exhibited specimens of several rocks and minerals which had been met with in the excavation of the great tunnel co-meeting Christchurch and Lyttelton. In 1862 he founded the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. The proceedings of the Institute are from time to time published, and attr ct (he attention of scientists throughout Europe, In 1884 Dr Voo Haast was presented with the gold medal of tho Royal Geographical Society, the first bestowed for explorations in New Zealand, and the President expressed a hope that, in thus rewarding Dr Von Haast, they were 1 encouraging scientific activity in a colony that had distinguished i sHf by its enlightened policy towards eou- ation and science.’ ” Sir Julius Von Haast represented New Zealand at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition in Lend -n la«t year. Ea returned to the colony by the Kaikonra last month.