4/1220 Professor/Captain Daniel Black Waters 20/4/1871-1?/4/1926.

Daniel Black Waters was an accomplished technician in New Zealand's mining industry and, when the Gerat War called for tunnelling and mining expertise, he was a logical choice to supervise operations, although his age of 40 made him a little older than most recruits.

PERSONAL

Mr Selwyn Kenrick, son of Mr Kenrick, S.M., has resigned his position on the teaching staff of the Hawera District High School (says the Star) to continue his studies at the Dunedin University.  At the meeting of the Technological Branch of the Otago Institute last evening a resolution was passed expressing appreciation of a vice-president, (Professor Waters) in volunteering to go with the Tunnelling Corps, in which he has been appointed to commissioned rank as captain. Members stated that they felt that the action of Professor Waters was an honour to the society, as well as to himself.  

In September 1915, Black joined the NZ Tunnelling Company, as a Captain under Major John Duigan, late of the Staff Corps.  They trained as a unit at the Avondale racecourse, Auckland, and embarked for Europe in December.  He did not stay long at the war, being declared by a Medical Boards as being permanently unfit for military service in April, 1917.

An excellent account of the NZTC's tunnels in the Arras area can be found here.

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL

Professor Waters asked for leave of absence, as he had been appointed captain, on probation, for the Tunnelling Corps for active service abroad. —Leave of absence was granted, and the Chancellor and Professor Park were asked to report as to what arrangements should be made for carrying on Professor Waters's work during his absence.

-Otago Daily Times, 20/10/1915.

PERSONALIA

Professor Waters, of Otago University, is going to the front as a captain in the Tunnelling Corps.  -NZ Times, 4/11/1915.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED

'War Work for Boys and Girls,' by George Mallory (London: G. Allen and Unwin, Ltd.), a pamphlet of 14 pages, containing much excellent advice as well as information on what it is possible for boys to do to help their country during the war. 'Otago University Review' (June, 1916) comes attractively bound and finely printed on the best of paper, whilst the many group portraits, with that of Professor Waters in uniform, which is given as a frontispiece, make this number of the 'Review' a specially welcome one.   -Evening Star, 28/6/1916.

Hocken Library photo.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

FOREIGN MISSIONS COMMITTEE. (excerpt)

The monthly meeting of the Foreign Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand was held yesterday afternoon in the hall of First Church, Dunedin. Eighteen members were present. Professor Hewitson presided. A minute of deep sympathy was recorded with the Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland (formerly a member of the committee) and Mrs Sutherland over the loss of two sons in battle. The Convenor expressed the pleasure felt by the committee at seeing Professor Waters present after two years’ absence on military service.   -Evening Star, 14/11/1917.

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

The regular meeting of the University Council was held yesterday; present — the Chancellor (the Rev. A. Cameron), Messrs Roberts, C.M.G., Ross, Sidey, M.P., Stophens, Ritchie, Morrell, Eudey, Drs Church and Benham, and the Hon. T. MacGibben. 

Mr O. J. W. Napier wrote asking the council to define his position, as he would most likely wish to return to New Zealand after the war to resume his duties.—Dr Inglis recommended that Mr Napier's position, as assistant lecturer in chemistry and public analyst be continued for a year after his return.—Referred to the Medical Committee to report.

Professor Waters reported that he had been discharged from the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces as from November 7, and asked the council to consider the question of increasing his remuneration.—Referred to the Finance Committee to report; Professor Waters to be congratulated on his return, and a letter of sympathy sent to him in connection with family troubles.   -Evening Star, 21/11/1917.

DEATHS

WATERS -On 12th March, 1918, at Dunedin; Ada, the beloved wife of D. B. Waters, Burwood avenue, Maori Hill. Interment private. -Hope and Kinaston, undertakers.  -Evening Star, 12/3/1918.

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL (excerpt)

The Council passed a vote of condolence to Professor Waters in connection with the death of his wife.   -Otago Daily Times, 20/3/1918.

LATE PROFESSOR WATERS

HIS PROFESSIONAL AND PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITIES 

Professor Daniel Black Waterrs was buried at Anderson's Bay Cemetery yesterday afternoon. Dr Morrington conducted the services. The Chancellor of the Otago University (Mr Sidey) and the Vice Chancellor (Mr Morell), Professor Park, Professor Adams, and several members of the University Council and the University staff attended, also a number of mining students, past and present. 

The professor was born at Warepa in 187I, son of the. Rev. John Waters. From the primary school at Warepa he passed on to the Otago Boys’ High School, and in 1890, after matriculating, be joined the Otago University School of Mines, where in 1893 he gained the associateship in mining and the diploma of land and mine surveyor. Although he graduated in the mining division, it was in metallurgy and assaying that be excelled, and arising from this he was in 1892 appointed student assistant to Mr David Wilkinson, lecturer in metallurgy and assaying. Afterwards in 1893 he carried on the work of the department, during Mr Wilkinson's absence in England.

For the succeeding seven years Professor Waters was employed in practical mining and metallurgical work. In 1900 Mr F. B. Stephens, who succeeded Mr P. Fitzgerald as lecturer in metallurgy and assaying, resigned, and Mr Waters was appointed in his place, in the hiatus between the death of Professor Ulrich and the appointment of Professor Park as director of the School of Mines, Mr Waters was acting-director. In 1909 he was raised to the status of professor. 

During the years 1915-17 he was on active service in France, holding the rank of captain in the New Zealand Tunnelling Company, of which he was for a time temporary major. His war work was of a most important nature, and has been dealt with at length by historians. One of his great undertakings was the subterranean operations at Arras, by means of which 30,000 men were lodged underground. 

Professor Waters had the reputation of being an able and successful teacher, at all times willing to spend his time and vital energy in promoting the interests of his students and the University. 

Outside his own immediate work at the University he carried out, after his return from the war, some experimental research on the treatment of the cinnabar ore of Pahipahi, and of goldbearing concentrates of Boatmans. As a member of the Council of the Otago institute, he delivered many popular lectures on metallurgical subjects. Of his other numerous activities and offices it will suffice to say that at the time of his death he was an esteemed elder of First Church, a member of the Board of Governors of John McGlashan College and of the Presbyterian Social Service Association, a member of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, London, and of the Australian Institute of Mining Engineers, secretary of the University Soldiers Memorial Fund, a member of the Board of Examiners for Mine Managers and Certificates, and hon. secretary of the Dominion Mining Conference.

As a son of the manse be stuck faithfully to his church and served it continuously. One of his last deeds was to make a handsome gift to the Presbyterian Social Service Association, enabling that body to go on with the building of a hospital at the Ross Home in North-east Valley. He was twice married. His first wife was Ada, daughter of the late C. M. Howison. of Dunedin: his second wife, who survives him, Flora, daughter of the late John Thomson, of Owaka.  -Evening Star, 5/4/1926.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, DCC photo.