Eric Ogilvy Macpherson died suddenly in New Zealand on 9th June, 1948, at the age of 55.
From 1911 to 1914 Mr. MacPherson was an engineering cadet in the workshops of Messrs. J. Sparrow & Sons, Ltd., of Dunedin, and then entered the Otago University School of Mines. His studies were interrupted by his war service in Egypt and Gallipoli, but he returned to the University in March, 1916. He joined the New Zealand Geological Survey in 1919 as assistant geologist, and during his period of service was employed on the Collingwood, Waiapu and Mt. Arthur sub-divisions and the Dargaville-Kiapara region.
In 1925 he joined the staff of Taranaki (N.Z.) Oilfields, N.L., as geologist, later being promoted senior geologist, and in 1931 he left to examine and report on gold mines in various parts of New Zealand for the Geological Survey. From 1934 to 1937 he was in charge of geophysical prospecting surveys, and from 1937 to 1939 held the position of consulting geologist to New Zealand Petroleum Co., Ltd. He rejoined the Geological Survey of New Zealand as senior geologist in November, 1939, and in May, 1945, was appointed acting mining geologist. He was the author of several contributions to the literature of the Survey.
Mr. Macpherson was elected to Associateship of the Institution in 1926 and was transferred to Membership in 1947.
Vol. 58, Trans IMM 1948-9, pp.589-90
