REISCHEK, ANDREAS (1845-1902) was born at Linz in Austria, the son of a tax-collector. After a few years of schooling he was apprenticed to a baker, who took him on nature study excursions. In the war of 1866 he fought in the Tyrol. Having married (1875), Reischek settled in Vienna as a taxidermist. In 1877 he accepted Hochstetter's invitation to go to New Zealand as assistant to Von Haast in arranging the newly-opened Christchurch Museum. The engagement was for two years, but it was 12 years before Reischek returned to his home. During this time he arranged the museums in Christchurch, Auckland and Wanganui, and a number of private collections, and made eight extended expeditions (with his dog Caesar) in New Zealand and the adjacent islands, carrying out a careful study of the flora and fauna. In 1889 he returned to Austria with his valuable collection, which was presented to the nation and housed in the state museum. Some years later he was appointed superintendent of the Francis-Caroline Museum in Linz, where he died on 8 Apr 1902. For his work he was elected a fellow of the Linnean Society. Many of his articles were published in the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. The English edition of his book Yesterdays in Maoriland appeared in 1930.

Trans. N.Z. Inst., pass.; Reischek, op. cit. (p); N.Z. Herald, 16 Apr, 16 Jul 1887, 10 Mar, 5 May, 3 Jul 1888, 2 Apr 1891, 6 Apr, 17 Dec 1892; Otago Daily Times, 10 May 1926, 10 Jan 1885.

Reference: Volume 2, page 114

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