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F. G. Maskell, B.A., M.Sc., Ph.D.

Died 7th January, 1932

Members of the Staff and all students who knew him learnt with regret and many of them with sorrow of the death of Dr. Maskell, the first lecturer in Zoology at this University College. He had been appointed in 1923 and was, from the first, held in high esteem; and long before his early death his character, his ability and his devotion to his work had won him respect and affectionate regard.

Dr. Maskell graduated from Auckland University College but took Honours (First) in Zoology and his Ph.D. degree here. He presented for the latter degree an embryological thesis of very high merit. His research threw additional light on the development of the thyroid gland and of what is probably the earliest appearance in comparative anatomy of the islets of Langherans, those important groups of cells in the pancreas that are, in the higher animals, concerned with the production of insulin. He was pursuing further investigations in this field until the illness that resulted in his death.

Providing a capable substitute, Miss Averil Lysaght, he obtained leave to visit Europe at the close of the session of 1930, his object being to get experience of laboratories abroad and to gain the inspiration that was to be found in meeting leading teachers in Britain and in other countries. After spending some time at Oxford and at the Marine Laboratory at Plymouth, he went to Freiburg, and, almost at once, had to enter hospital. The doctors diagnosed septicaemia and took a grave view of the case. The New Zealand lady he was to have married, Miss Margaret Fraser, crossed to Germany, and, in her capable and affectionate care, of which he wrote very touchingly, he was removed to England. His mother went from New Zealand hoping that soon she would be able to bring him back, a hope, unhappily, not realised, and she remained with him until his death.

Dr. Maskell's father, Dr. I. W. Maskell, of Auckland, has given to the College his son's scientific books, which have, for the students of these years, a special value just because they were his.

In losing Dr. Maskell, New Zealand has lost one, of the foremost of its younger men of science, Victoria University College has lost a very able teacher and a man; our sincere sympathy will always be with those whose loss is greater still.

—H.B.K.