George Leslie Adkin diary entry Tuesday 4 February 1919

Tues. Feb. 4

Attended the general meeting of the N.[ew] Z.[ealand] Inst.[itute] officials + members at Canterbury College at 11.am. Met Mr. Speight + found him far from cordial + with appar[a]ntly [sic] no time for an

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amateur. Met + chummed up with a decent young fellow named Wright, a former student at the Weraroa Experimental Farm, + at present Dr.[octor] Cockayne's assistant in the study of N.Z. tussock areas. Dr. Cockayne, president N.Z. Inst., in the chair, + the proposed programme of the Congress discussed, but very little finality arrived at. It transpired the excursion to Lake Coleridge had come off the previous weekend, unknown to the majority + confined to a few favoured by guns. During proceedings I noted Dr. Cockayne, Dr Chilton, Dr. J.A. Thomson Hon.[ourble] G. M. Thomson, Dr. Cotton + Dr Helgendorff. After the general meeting some section meetings were held. I attended that of the geol.[ogy] - only Dr.s Cotton, Thomson, Benson, + Messers Wild + Speight present. Dr Cotton enquired if I was Adkin (Mr. Speight making no attempt to introduce me) + the others then shook hands. Very little business was done - papers to be read tomorrow + some geol. excursions were discussed but nothing definite decided on. The various members of the sections then proceeded in scattered groups

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to the Council Chamber in the Municipal Bldgs. [Buildings] where the Mayor in full regalia tendered a "civic welcome" to the delegates of the Congress. The whole company was then photographed on the bank of the Avon. At lunch Mr. Moodie introduced me to Mr. Gibb, an apiarist, Govt.[Government] official in Dept.[department] Agri.[culture], curator of the Invercargill museum + an explorer of the West Coast Sounds district. At 2.30 I rejoined members of the Congress at the Municipal Bldgs + we motored to Lincoln Agricultural College, most on a solid-tired motor lorry on which a couple of forms were mounted, the rest including the officials, who knew a thing or two, in cars. I sat next Mr. Gibb + in conversation en route garnered some information re.[garding] weeds, farm seeds +c. On arrival at the College, a fine brick building faced with Oamaru stone, we were provided with afternoon tea by the Director, Mr Alexander + his wife. We were shown round the bldg., inspected some Romney, Shrop.[shire?], South Down, Eng.[sic?], + B.[sic?] Leicester rams, + saw a motor tractor hauling a reaper + binder in a field of wheat. Photo 1/2pl (18) of last. Barring the pm. tea no preparation had been

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made for our visit so we saw very little + learned less. Returned to Chch. in the motor lorry the vibration of which was quite painful. In evening met Wright + we walked up to Canterbury College to the official opening of the Science Congress which took place at 8pm. His Excellency the Governor-General, Her Excellency + suite, Hon. Russell, Dr. Cockayne + others of the nobility occupied the platform of the big hall, + there was a fairly large audience many being in evening dress. The Governor-general made a speech, Hon. Russell read one (which however contained some good points) + the Dr. Cockayne read his presidential address " The N.Z. Instr.: It's Aims + Aspirations." - this was very interesting. Finally the Hon. G.M. Thomson moved a vote of thanks to Dr. C.[ockayne] some sentences of mutual admiration were exchanged + the distinguished assemblage dispersed to the strains of the National Anthem. Wright + I went to the "Rendezvous" for supper.