Although comprising 264 pages, this biography of New Zealand's greatest 19th century scientist is relatively short compared to the achievements that James Hector accomplished during 45 years in this country. With no wasted words or space, this thoroughly researched, lucidly written biography, with numerous well-chosen illustrations, including images not published before, provides a balanced account of one of the most important men in colonial New Zealand. The author is well qualified to write this account, being an emeritus scientist at GNS Science, the successor to the Geological Survey that, along with the Colonial Museum and Colonial Laboratory, was established 150 years ago by Hector.
Today, to most New Zealanders, Hector is known as the man after whom the world's most endangered dolphin is named. Others, particularly trampers, are aware that the highest peak in the southern Tararua Range honours him. Only relatively few could accurately locate the village of Hector, precariously fighting for its survival on the coast north of Westport. More may be aware of the Hector Mountains in Southland. Nevertheless, all of these have strong links to Hector, as well as exemplifying his diverse life. The dolphin illustrates that Hector was a multi-talented scientist who was equally interested in all aspects of the natural world. The mountain is seen from Wellington where Hector unified the development of science in New Zealand. The township is on the fringes of the Buller Coalfield and it was on a challenging 7-month-long fieldtrip evaluating the coal resources of the West Coast in 1867 that Hector, in descending the Mokihinui River, dislocated his shoulder. Under his instructions, it was returned by his companions to its rightful place and the survey continued through what Hector described as the worst country he had ever seen. The Hector Mountains commemorate his first links with New Zealand, as Otago Provincial Geologist.
While New Zealand can claim him as its own, he was an immigrant like most 19th century Europeans. Hector was born in Edinburgh on 16 March 1834 and eventually took a medical degree at the university in that city as it allowed him to pursue a career in science. This dual specialisation quickly had its reward for he was appointed doctor and scientist to the 1857–1860 Palliser Expedition, the basic goal of which was to find a link between eastern Canada and the Pacific Coast within British territory. It was here that Hector laid the foundation for his subsequent international reputation by demonstrating that he was an astute observer, able to assimilate facts and present them concisely. He also gained popular recognition for, when locating the pass now utilised by the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Trans-Canada Highway, he was kicked by a horse and, believed to be dead, was almost buried alive. Fittingly, a spectacular 3394 m peak in the Rockies, overlooking the railway leading westwards to Kicking Horse Pass, was later named for him.
By then Hector had the credentials to apply for a number of positions within the still-expanding British Empire. Fate had it that he took a position in 1862 in southern New Zealand as provincial geologist in Otago, which was experiencing a gold-mining boom. An assessment of its mineral riches, including coal, was deemed desirable as well as determining whether the province had a western harbour that could be used to service the inland goldfields. In his 3 years in Otago, Hector demonstrated three of his strengths. He had broad scientific interests (his staff included the botanist John Buchannan and the chemist William Skey), he was an accomplished explorer who on two occasions crossed the main divide in trying weather to the West Coast, and he was a consummate administrator. The latter attribute was essential to ensure that his geological survey was adequately funded, a challenging task against parsimonious politicians. At this time he produced the third regional geology map compiled in New Zealand (after Hochstetter's maps of Auckland and Nelson) and he subsequently produced the first geological maps of the whole country.
One of Hector's greatest achievements in Otago was almost single-handedly ensuring that the New Zealand Exhibition came to fruition in Dunedin in 1865. In preparing the exhibition Hector travelled to the other provinces, gaining support in the form of exhibits and displays. While doing so he had the prescience to realise that science, which then tended to be dominated by the earth sciences, was not a provincial matter but a national one. This led to Hector, through his ability to get on well with almost everyone but particularly those with influence, becoming in 1865 the inaugural director of the New Zealand Geological Survey, located in the new capital of Wellington. It was not long before a wide range of institutions and posts were domiciled with Hector. The letterhead of the Colonial Museum (see p. 108 of Nathan's book) is almost mind-boggling, with nine other organisations also listed under Hector's directorship. Under Hector all of these organisations established a solid reputation for providing unbiased information and well thought out conclusions based on the data available. Such was Hector's own reputation that whenever a problem arose the question was often asked, ‘what would Dr Hector think’.
It was under Hector that two important series of publications were inaugurated. The first was the Reports of Geological Explorations, which were soon issued yearly. The second was the much more broadly based Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute published by the New Zealand Institute, now the Royal Society of New Zealand. As well as taking a leading role in the formation of the institute, Hector was appointed its manager. The institute had affiliated to it, in one way or another, learned societies or associations in all the provincial centres. It was the rapport he established with the ‘gentleman naturalists’ belonging to these scientific bodies that ensured continuing support for science during the financially lean years of the 1870s and 1880s. Hector was also a leading figure in the University of New Zealand, which culminated in his being appointed its chancellor from 1885–1903.
Hector married in 1868, his bride being Georgiana Monro, daughter of Dr Monro, with whom he could certainly empathise. Monro trained in Edinburgh and was one of Nelson's founding fathers. Putting aside medicine, Monro had become wealthy from farming and became a provincial and later colonial politician, being knighted for his services as speaker of the House of Representatives. His son-in-law's greatest dread was, should the colonial finances run dry, having to give up science and practise medicine to support his family. Nathan provides an interesting, and hitherto overlooked, insight into Hector's, and particularly Georgie's, running of a household and bringing up a family in colonial Wellington. Like his father-in-law, in 1887 Hector was knighted for his services to this country, just one of many distinctions and honours he was to receive. In return, the Royal Society of New Zealand has named one of its premier awards after him. Recognising Hector's multi-talents, this medal is awarded in rotation among the major scientific disciplines.
To fully cover Hector's 73 years—he died in Lower Hutt on 6 November 1906—would have taken many volumes and a lifetime's work. Instead, Nathan has opted for an overview, and has given equal treatment to the various scientific disciplines Hector was involved with, along with his personal life. In addition, after a brief introduction to Hector's early life, the stages in his subsequent career are accorded equal consideration. What is given its due, perhaps for the first time, is Hector's exceptional organisational skills, which ensured that scientific research in this country was placed on a firm footing. While Hector's later life, in some respects, was not as successful as his earlier career, the foundations he established have survived. The subtitle of the book—explorer, scientist, leader—succinctly sums up Hector's outstanding contribution to the development of colonial New Zealand. It is fitting that the book is published in 2015, marking 150 years since Hector's appointment firmly established scientific research in this country.