Obituary

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 16, 1 November 1929, Page 8

Obituary

Dr. Charles Chilton TE death oceurred in Christchurch last Friday of Dr. Charles Chilton. The news has been réad with regret by all interested in the broadcasting service with which during the last few months Dr, Chilton has been closely associated. Always interested in radio broadcasting, he realised its great possibilities in the dissemination of information right into the homes of the people, and when the general manager of the Broadcasting Company was formulating his scheme of Primary Productions Committees for. the broadcasting of talks to:farmers, Dr. Chilton accepted willingly the position of organiser, for he saw in it an opportunity for further service, After twenty-six years a professor at Canterbury College and rector from 1921: to 1928, he had retired, but he dived strenuously even in his retirement, As organiser of the Primary Productions Committees of the Broadcasting Company he rendered good service ; and his work) was only beginning. A man of standing, he was respected by all men. He had formed a-.committee at 8YA and it was working smoothly and efficiently, gathering momentum all the time. A fortnight ago, at the time of the opening of the new 4YA, he visited Dunedin and a representative committee was formed there. ° It was .a successful mission, but later, after visiting friends in South Canterbury, he caught a chill while motoring home across the cold plains, Pneumonia followed, with fatal results. New Zealand is the poorer by the death of Dr. Chilton, who held a distinguished place in the world of science, for which he did great work. He always devoted attention to the encouragement of education and scientifie research. He published about 130

original papers on zoological subjects in scientific periodicals in New Zéaland, Australia, England, Sweden, India, ‘and the Philippine Islands. In recognition of his service to Canterbury College, the honour of professor emeritus was conferred on him this year. Dr. Chilton’s scholastie record is an inspiration. He attended lectures at Canterbury "College as an unmatriculated student from 1875 to 1878, when, he gained a Junior University scholarship. In 1880 he completed his. B.A. degree. with exhibition in natural science and senior scholarship in HEnglish, physics and natural science, haying thus qualified for a senior scholarship in all the five subjects for the B.A.

degree. In 1881 he gained -his M.A. degree with first-class honours in z0ology, and in‘1887, at the University of Otago, he took his B.Sce.,. the first ia New Zealand, and in 1893 gained his D.S8e., being the first Doctor of Science in the University of New Zealand. From 1895 co 1898, at Edinburgh University studying medicine, he took medals in botany, physiology and sur. gery, gained the Aitken Carlyle Scholarship and M.B., C.M. degree with honours. In 1899 he was house surgeon > in the ophthalmic ward of the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, and during the next year he studied diseases of the eye at Heidelburg, Vienna and London. During 1901 and 1902 he acted as ophthalmie surgeon in Christchurch, -and in 1902 was appointed acting-Professor of Biology during the absence on leave of Professor Dendy. In 1903 he -was appointed’ Professor of Biology and Palaéontology at Canterbury College, teaching both subjects till 1910, and continuing as Professor of Biology till his resignation in January, 1928, It was in 1921 that Dr, Chilton was appointed Rector of Canterbury Col-

lege, the first position of the kind in any Australian or New Zealand University College, and he held the office till January, 1928, His other activities include actingcurator of the Canterbury Museum during 1905 and 1906, and again in 1909. He was one of the founders of the Dialectic Society of Canterbury College in 1879. He held the office of chairman of the Professorial Board several times, and represented Canterbury College on the Board of Studies and on the Senate of the University of New Zealand from 1908 to 1918, Dr. Chilton took part in the formation of the Workers’ Educational Association’ in Christchurch in 1915, and was president for two years. He was one of the representatives of the University of New Zealand at the Congress of Universities of the Empire "wa. London in 1912, and received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Aberdeen University. He has. been a member of the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury since 1881, and was president in 1903, 1904 and 1913. He has been a member of the Australasian Association for Advancement of Science from its formation till the present time, and took part in the Philosophical Institute’s expedition to the SubAntarctic Islands of New Zealand in 1907, and edited: the volumes of re sults. ~