George Leslie Adkin

Te Ao Hou, September 1964, Page 19

George Leslie Adkin Mr George Leslie Adkin, a pioneer in New Zealand geology, archaeology and Polynesian studies, died recently in Wellington at the age of 75. He was a well-known explorer of the Tararua Ranges, and in 1909 he made the first crossing from Levin to Masterton. Until 1946 he was a farmer. After this he joined the New Zealand Geological Survey, retiring in 1955. He published 32 articles in scientific journals, many of them in the Journal of the Polynesian Society, and wrote two books: ‘Horowhenua’, a record of the Maori names in that district, and ‘Te Whanganui o Tara’, which discusses the Maori place names in the Wellington district. ? A thousand varieties of kumara collected from one side of the Pacific to the other will be planted at the Government vegetable research station at Otara this year to try to discover the origin of the kumara, its history, distribution and modifications in different countries. The main object of the research is to develop varieties for use in the Pacific Islands. ? About 20 members of the Arahina branch of the Maori Women's Welfare League, Auckland, will make a two-week visit to Fiji next year. It is hoped that soon after their return, their Fijian hosts will pay a return visit to them in Auckland.