Publishing science - a tribute to James Hector (1834-1907)
Throughout his career, James Hector was convinced of
the importance of publishing scientific information. Soon after his
appointment in 1865 as Director of the Geological Survey and Colonial
Museum, he advocated the formation of the New Zealand Institute, to
have responsibility for publishing scientific papers on New Zealand
topics. He acted as manager and editor from 1868-1903, producing the
first 35 volumes of the Transactions and Proceedings of the New
Zealand Institute.
The Proceedings were summaries of the meetings
of the constituent societies of the Institute, which included branches
in Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury, Westland,
Otago and Southland. In contrast, the Transactions were
selected papers that were published in full.
It is exciting that the National Library has digitised
the early publications of the New Zealand Institute (later Royal
Society of New Zealand), thus giving them a new lease of life. This
selection of papers has been compiled as a tribute to James Hector.
They were all produced while he was editor. It is an eclectic list,
including some papers written by Hector himself, others that are
significant scientific or historical landmarks, and some that simply
appealed to me. I have aimed to show the variety of topics covered. The
papers have been arranged in chronological order.
James Hector laid a firm foundation for New Zealand
science publishing. I'm sure that he would be pleased that the Journal
of the Royal Society of New Zealand continues publication almost
140 years later, together with the other journals produced by the
Society, and I'm sure that he would approve of modern methods of
digital publication.
Simon Nathan
November 2007
Inaugural
address to the New Zealand Institute, August 4 1868, by the first
president, Sir George Bowen, Governor.
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 1: 3-9 (1868)
In this first presidential address, Sir George Bowen outlines his
concept of science as being essential for the development of the young
colony of New Zealand.
On
the recent earthquakes and wave phenomena observed in New Zealand
by J. Hector
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 1: 93-103 (1868)
This was written after widespread public interest in a large tsunami
that orginated in South America, and affected the New Zealand coastline
on 15 August 1868. Subsequently, a major review of the tsunami, based
on observations from around the Pacific Ocean (including New Zealand),
was written by Ferdinand von Hochstetter, who had visited New Zealand
in 1859.
On
the present state of applied science in the Canterbury Province by
E. Dobson
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 1: 181-195 (1868)
An account of engineering developments in Canterbury since settlers
arrived in 1850.
On
the tuatara (Hatteria punctata) or great-fringed lizard of New
Zealand by F.J. Knox
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 2: 17-20 (1869)
One of the earliest descriptions of a tuatara made in New Zealand,
using material in the Colonial Museum.
On
university education as adapted to the circumstances and prospects of
the Colony of New Zealand by Charles Fraser
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 2: 192-196 (1869)
The subject of university education was widely discussed in the first
decades of the New Zealand Institute. This paper deals with basic
questions of the nature of a university, and what should be taught in a
colonial university.
On
the changes effected in the natural features of a new country by the
introduction of civilised races by W.T.L. Travers
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 2: 299-339 (1869)
These papers, orignally given as lectures by W.T.L Travers, are one of
the earliest examples of ecological analysis of human impact in New
Zealand.
On
mining in New Zealand by J. Hector
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 2: 361-384 (1869)
This is one of the first reviews of economic geology in New Zealand, in
the later stages of the gold rushes. It gives an interesting view of
how the mining potential of New Zealand was regarded in 1869 while the
more remote areas were still being explored.
On
the identity of the moa-hunters with the present Maori race by
Alexander McKay
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 7: 98-105 (1875)
Researches
and excavations carried on in and near the Moa-bone Point cave, Sumner
Road in the year 1872 by J. Von Haast
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 7: 54-85 (1875)
These two papers were the subject of much controversy within the New
Zealand Institute in 1874-75. Haast employed McKay to excavate a cave
near Sumner in Christchurch which contained bones and other
archeological remains. Frustrated by Haast's delay in writing up the
results, McKay produced his own paper. Haast was upset, hurriedly wrote
his own version, and appealed to the Governors of the Institute. It was
decided that both papers should be published in the Transactions. To
appease Haast, it was agreed that his paper should be given before
McKay's, but as McKay's was clearly written first I have reversed the
order here.
A number of papers have been written about this controversy, but the
issue of who controls the publication of scientific results remains a
debated issue to this day.
On
the proposed introduction of the polecat into New Zealand by Walter
Buller
Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 9(2): 634-635 (1876)
Because of pressure to exterminate rabbits, there was pressure from
farmers to introduce polecats (ferrets) into New Zealand. An attempt to
prohibit their introduction by legislation was unsuccessful. Buller
published evidence showing why their introduction would be disastrous
to bird life. Sadly, his warnings were ignored.
Observations
on the eruption of Mount Tarawera, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand on 10th
June 1886 by J.A. Pond & S.P. Smith
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 19: 342-371 (1886)
The
earthquake in the Amuri by F.W. Hutton
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 21: 269-293 (1888)
An account of the earthquake of 1 September 1888 that caused widespread
damage in north Canterbury. In this paper, Hutton analyses the
distribution of damage, and attempts to estimate the epicentre of the
earthquake.
On
the assumed hybidity between the common fowl and the woodhen (Ocydromus)
by J. Murie
Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 22: 342-353
(1889)
In the late 19th century there was concern that feral hens were
interbreeding with native weka. To check on this, a supposed hybrid was
submitted to anatomist J. Murie for dissection.
Origin
of the loess deposits of the Timaru Plateau by J. Hardcastle
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 22: 406-414 (1889)
On
the Timaru loess as a climate register by J. Hardcastle
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 23: 324-332 (1890)
These two papers present a very perceptive interpretation of the loess
deposits of the Timaru area. John Hardcastle recognised that loess
deposits were windblown dust, formed during glacial periods, and went
on to link the layers of loess to changing climate. This was many years
ahead of the same conclusion by American and European scientists, and
Hardcastle is now recognised internationally as a pioneer in loess
studies.
Illustrations
of Darwinism; or the avifauna of New Zealand considered in relation to
the fundamental law of descent with modification by Walter Buller
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 27: 75-104 (1895)
There is little discussion of evolution or Darwinism in the late 19th
century publications of the Institute - it appears that it was regarded
as a controversial topic. Buller was never afraid of controversy, and
wrote this paper to provide examples of evolution from his knowledge of
New Zealand birds
Magnetisation
of iron by high-frequency discharges by Ernest Rutherford
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 27: 481-513 (1895)
Ernest Rutherford undertook his earliest research work at Canterbury
University College in the 1890s, and published his first scientific
papers in the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute.
Early
exploration and colonisation of western Canada by J. Hector
Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 33: 552-554 (1900)
A summary of a talk given by Hector to the Wellington Philosophical
Society outlining his explorations in Canada some 40 years earlier.
Mathematical
treatment of the problem of production, rent, interest and wages by
Douglas Hector
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 34: 514-519 (1901)
An early mathematical treatment of an economic problem by Douglas
Hector, son of James Hector. He died tragically of peritonitis in 1903
while visiting western Canada with his father.
References
Fleming, C.A. 1987: Science, settlers and scholars: the centennial
history of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Royal Society of New
Zealand Bulletin 25. 353 p.
Reid, F.L. 2007: The Province of Science: James Hector and the New
Zealand Institute, 1867-1903. PhD thesis, University of Cambridge. 210
p.
