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JAMES HECTOR The name of James Hector is part of the history of the Wellington Botanic Garden. The following notes from a number of sources cover the life and contribution of this important pioneer scientist.
James Hector was a pioneer explorer, geologist, and natural scientist, who founded many of New Zealand's scientific organisations and was closely involved with the establishment of the Wellington Botanic Garden, as well as many institutions in the Capital. Born 16 March 1834, Hector entered Edinburgh University as a medical student in 1852, medicine being the only avenue for scientific study then. He also attended lectures in geology, botany and zoology. In 1856 he graduated MD (Doctor of Medicine) with a thesis on the Antiquity of Man. His abilities were recognised at an early stage. In 1857 he was appointed surgeon and geologist on a Government expedition for the exploration of western Canada from June 1857 to January 1860. Hector made an outstanding contribution to the success of the expedition. Working in rugged conditions, he established himself as a field geologist, natural historian and explorer. One of the accounts of the expedition notes that "Young and eager, the tough little Scot proved a heroic traveler who left a legendary reputation behind in western North America". He did not limit himself to Canadian geology. He made observations on mammals, reptiles, insects and birds, and reported on the customs of the Indians and their language settling the approach for future years. Hector left his mark on many geographic features. He is particularly remembered for the discovery of Kicking Horse Pass, high in the Rockies. One of his most important geological studies was here, which later became the route of the main Canadian Transcontinental Railway. It was this study that led to his general recognition. As the name implies, he was injured by a horse completing this work, and assumed by his companions to be dead. They were about to bury him when he regained consciousness and winked at them. Based on his success with the expedition, Hector was appointed Geologist of Otago, soon after the discovery of gold. From 1962 he carried out pioneer exploration and geological reconnaissance Otago, including the inaccessible mountainous area in the west. By September of that year Hector had explored the eastern districts of Otago, visited Central Otago, and accumulated a collection of 500 specimens of rocks, fossils and minerals. During 1863 he extended his investigations to the West Coast, carrying out a double crossing between Milford Sound and Dunedin, a pioneering effort in exploration and geological reconnaissance. In early 1860s, that colonial, gold-rich Otago should publicly exhibit a representative collection of its diverse rocks in what became the Otago Museum. When Provincial Geologist James Hector's collection of 5,000 rocks and minerals went on display at the trade-promoting New Zealand Exhibition in Dunedin in 1865, the Provincial Government of Otago decided to act on the suggestion, by then enlarged to envision a museum of natural history. In July 1868, the impetus for a museum was revived, and this time rooms were made available in the Post Office building in Dunedin's Exchange area. On 15 September that year the Otago Museum was opened to the public. The following year the University of Otago moved into the same building - the beginning of a long-standing link between the two institutions. Hector believed that reconnaissance surveys should include all facets of science, and he assembled a small group of staff, who stayed with him for many years: William Skey to analyse rocks and minerals, John Buchanan as draftsman and botanical artist, and Richard Gore as clerk and meteorological observer. His work in Otago brought Hector to the attention of the New Zealand Government, then considering the establishment of a colonial Geological Survey to establish the mineral resources of the country. Hector proposed that it should include a scientific museum and analytical laboratory. His ideas were largely accepted, and in 1865 he was appointed Director of the New Zealand Geological Survey and Colonial Museum. Skey, Buchanan and Gore accompanied him to Wellington. As the only scientist working for the Government, Hector became the official adviser on all matters of science and higher education. In addition to his designated duties, he became Chancellor of the University of New Zealand, and at different times was responsible for the Meteorological Department, the Colonial Observatory, the Wellington Time Ball Station and Botanical Gardens, the Patent Library, and for custody of the official Weights and Measures. One of Hector's most enduring contributions was the development of the New Zealand Institute (now the Royal Society of New Zealand) as an independent scientific organisation. From its inception in 1867, Hector was its Manager and Editor for the next 36 years. Hector published 45 scientific papers in the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute on geology, botany and zoology. He prepared a Handbook of New Zealand in 1879 (revised 1882, 1883, and 1886) that is the forerunner of the New Zealand Yearbook. In 1886 he published his "Outline of New Zealand Geology", a summary of the first 20 years of work of the New Zealand Geological Survey. Hector also oversaw the production of a series of publications by the Colonial Museum covering birds, fishes, echinoderms, mollusca, crustacea, beetles, flies, wasps, grasses and flax. These were pioneer works, in some cases not replaced by more authoritative works for many years. Hector's dolphin was named in honour of Hector who examined the first specimen Hector was predominant in the New Zealand science scene for over 20 years, and received many honours. He was knighted in 1887. Inevitably he had disagreements with other scientists and politicians. From the late 1880s his position at the centre of an official scientific empire began to wane, and several organisations were removed from his control. From 1892 Hector was only Director of the Colonial Museum and Manager of the New Zealand Institute, with a greatly reduced staff and budget. He retired from Government service in poor health aged 69 in 1903. After retirement, Hector returned to Canada as a guest of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Official recognition of his part in the Expedition 40 years earlier was marred by the sudden death of his son Douglas who had accompanied him. He returned to New Zealand alone, and died on 6 November 1907. Although Hector's death was marked by obituaries in may overseas scientific publications, he received little recognition in New Zealand. To its shame, the New Zealand Institute took 16 years to publish an obituary (and even this appears to have been at the request of the Hector family). Hector is now remembered with more respect for the enormous contribution he made to setting New Zealand science on a solid foundation. Hector and the Wellington Botanic Garden When the City of Wellington was being planned in London, in the instructions to the Superintendent of the NZ Company for the establishment of the colony in 1839, he was directed to establish a city of some 1000 acres. Separating the urban from rural activities, a strip of land was to be set aside, which we now know as the Town Belt. In addition he was instructed to set aside land 'as a botanic reserve'. Thirteen acres of land for the Wellington Botanic Garden were broadly identified in a City Plan dated 1840, the site of the current Main Garden, although it was some time later for the exact area to be formally delineated. The Governors of the NZ Institute, which was the forerunner of the Royal Society of NZ, together with Dr. James Hector, who later became Sir James Hector, as Manager, formed the Botanic Garden Board, and administered the Botanic Garden for the next 22 years. Appointed by the new central Government set up in Wellington in 1865 as its 'scientific adviser', it is interesting to note that government consultants are nothing new!!. He actively encouraged the Government to establish the Garden (1869) utilising the land previously identified, with the following three objectives.
Except for the nursery beds near the entrance the Garden was completely unformed, except
for some tracks. William Bramley was the first Superintendent, and he immediately commenced fencing the Garden,
cutting paths, and removing gorse and commencing planting. The original area was 13 acres, and in 1874 the Wesleyan
Reserve of 58 acres was added to give a total area of 25.5 ha. (68 acres). Unlike the original 13 acres, this reserve
still had areas of native forest remaining on it Much of the Garden was covered in native Bush
Burnett, R. I. M. 'The life and work
of Sir James Hector, with special reference to the Hector Collection'.
MA thesis, Otago, 1936 Cover of the Hector book
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