The Branch shall, from time to time, invite presentation of a lecture describing an aspect of science relevant to the historical and future development of the Manawatu. The lecturer, who shall be actively involved in science and technology, shall be presented with an appropriate certificate and an honorarium, and the Branch shall endeavour to have a permanent record of the lecture published.

The Council of the Branch adopted the concept of the lecture in November 1998, with the intention of demonstrating the relevance to science and technology to the Manawatu. It is envisaged that the topic should be linked to the Manawatu, at least with mention of local work and / or installations, and it will probably be appropriate for the speaker to conclude with a portrayal of what the Manawatu would be like without the benefits of the work described - or how the Manawatu is likely to develop if the work is applied locally.

A benefactor offered $200 for the speaker's honorarium, together with $50 for additional advertising, for each of the first four years.

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Manawatu Lectures:

1999 - "Earthworms - our forgotten army" presented by Dr Patricia M Fraser, Crop & Food Research, Lincoln .

Beneath the surface of the soil, earthworms go about their daily routine largely unnoticed. But if we delve into the soil and enter into the world of the earthworm, we are able to discover the important roles that they play and realise just how many jobs they carry out. Earthworms are an often forgotten, but none-the-less very important component of many sustainable soil systems and have been shown to significantly influence properties such as soil structure, nutrient availability and plant productivity. Indeed it was Charles Darwin who stated in 1881 that " it may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world as have these lowly organised creatures". Since these early observations, our knowledge of earthworms has increased a vast amount, due to the varied efforts of many researchers around the world. However, much of the pioneering earthworm research began in right here in New Zealand; research which has been of pivotal importance to our understanding of soil processes and land productivity. For example, did you know it was a New Zealander who showed that the weight of earthworms found under pasture was similar to the weight of the animals grazing above the ground? We may not always be able to see them but there's a multitude of them underground, busy carrying out many functions that can ultimately be of benefit to us all. The presentation provided more information about the hidden world of 'our forgotten army'

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2000 - "The Flaxmilling Industry of Manawatu" presented by Ian Matheson, City Archivist, Palmerston North.

This lecture examined the role of the Manawatu region in the rise and fall of a unique New Zealand industry - flaxmilling. This industry was based upon the exploitation of the native flax plant (harakeke or Phormium tenax), the leaves of which contain a strong white fibre suitable for manufacture into cordage and textiles. Maori people pioneered the utilisation of this fibre, but control of the industry passed to Europeans during the 1860s, when machines were invented to produce fibre in large quantities. Between 1890 and 1970 the flax swamps of Manawatu supported the largest concentration of fibre processing factories (flaxmills) in New Zealand and played an important in the economic development of Foxton, Shannon and Palmerston North. The industry was phased out of existence during the 1970s, in the face of increasing competition from synthetic fibres.

Mr Matheson has been researching the history of the Manawatu flaxmilling industry for several years. In addition to interviewing many people who worked in the industry, he has also collected photographs and records from private sources, and studied Government files in the National Archives. His lecture focussed on flaxmill operations, swamp development and Government involvement in the industry. It was illustrated by photographs taken during the period 1897 to 1970.

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NZ has had a significant dairy export industry since the 1880s; it is now a major player in the international dairy scene. The tight integration of the whole industry, the readiness to exploit scientific advances and new technology knowledge, and our temperate climate have all been important factors.

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Genetic improvement of cultivated plants is as old as human society and there has been very significant activity in the Manawatu. Plants of all major economic sectors, including ornamentals and soil conservation plants, have been the focus of attention.

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Richard Heerdegen has commented on weather in the Manawatu for many years. His writings have appeared in the Manawatu Evening Standard, and "the weather man" has given numerous talks to local organisations. This talk will integrate his experience to give a long-term perspective on climate and weather in the Manawatu.

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Chris has broad experience of poplar growing in NZ. He discussed how scientific research has been used, and is being used, to respond to various issues and concerns. History suggests that the continuation and maintenance of a strong program of poplar research and practical application is essential for NZ's agricultural and environmental future.

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Genetic markers for resistance to black spot, woolly apple aphid and powdery mildew in apples have been developed over the past 15 years. HortResearch has used markers developed by their team for marker assisted selection over the past 6 years. With the advent of the fruit genomics programme and the development of automated laboratory systems, the capabilities (and output) of the team have expanded dramatically over the past 3 years.

This talk conveyed Sue's skills, enthusiasm and excitement over this fruitful application of DNA technology in the Manawatu.

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Soil is the fragile yet productive skin of our planet. It occupies a critical position between the atmosphere and the subterranean realm, and lies astride the main thoroughfare along which water and chemicals enter our ground and surface water reservoirs. Our soil is the world's biggest filter.

Water is now known as 'blue gold'. 'Blue gold' will be this century's most urgent environmental issue. We need to use our scientific understanding of the functioning world's largest water filter * our soil * to protect the quantity and quality of our resources of 'blue gold'.

The lecture described the advances in and applications of soil science important for water management.

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