A GREAT SCIENTIST.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2682, 11 December 1909, Page 4

A GREAT SCIENTIST.

It is quite possible that when the historian of the future concludes his task of reviewing the position of New Zealand in the beginning of the twentieth century he will ignore many of those political dignitaries who at present bulk so 'largely in the public eye and will instead direct attention to an obscure, quiet-living student of science of whom little is known outside a small privileged circle. Even in Canterbury, where Professor A. W. Bickerton has for years made his home, his life work is little understopd, and he himself has had ample proof that there are more hard knocks than appreciation for the maa who has high ideals and is prepared to live up to them. For a lengthy period Professor Bickerton held a high (position on the staff of the Canterbury University, but his public expression of an opinion on social topics that was entirely unorthodox met with strong disapproval on the part of the,Board of Governors and a means was found to obtain his resignation. Without belaboring this aspect in the career of the Professor we any mention in passing that the whole circumstances were distinctly regrettable and by no means creditable to those responsible for the Board’s action. Since that time Professor Bickerton has been concerned with the exploitation of a summer holiday resort just outside Christchurch and in this way one of the greatest men known to New Zealand history is earning a more or less precarious livelihood. In his spare time he still devotes himself to the work for which his marvellous -scientific attainments adapt him, and it is in tnis connection that we now draw attention to his labors. • It is many years since Professor Bickerton formulated and published his theory on the construction of the universe known as partial impact. At first it received little credence, but latterly it has been accepted by leading scientists of England and Europe as one of the most valuable contributions that have ever been produced on the subject. It was only natural that considerable \ hesitation should have been apparent on the part

of the most eminent astronomers of

Europe in giving credence to «■ new theory propounded by an obscure professor in far away New Zealand, but as the years have .gone bn investiga tions appear to constantly confirm tLa New Zealander’s conception of the origin and continuation of the universe. A few months ago Professor Bickerton visited the Commonwealth and whilst there Lord Dudley became greatly interested in l his great work and promised to assist in providing the author with' an opportunity to bring it personally before the heads of the scientific world at Home. Recently Professor Bickerton has been induced to publish a series of articles dealing with his views on this absorbingly interesting subject and the first instalment is published in to-day’s, supplement. Those who read it will be given a rare opportunity of learning first hand some of the most marvellous things that can be learned in ,a marvellous universe. .