HOPKINS, ISAAC (1837-1925) was born in London. He saw service in the mercantile marine during the Crimean War, and came to New Zealand first in 1855. Having married, he returned to the West Coast in 1865 and was on the Thames goldfield soon after it opened (1867). He and his mates working on the Golden Crown battery there first instituted the eight-hours system on the field in place of the 10 hours previously observed.

It was at the Thames that Hopkins commenced beekeeping, with a gin-case hive (1874). In 1879 he obtained a copy of Langstroth on the Honey Bee, and from this constructed his first moveable-frame hives. He established an apiary at Parawai, Thames, which attracted considerable attention. From 1880 he contributed notes on beekeeping to the Thames Advertiser, and the Auckland Weekly News and shortly afterwards he brought out the first edition of his Bee Manual (afterwards the Australasian Bee Manual). In conjunction with J. C. Firth he established an apiary at Matamata, where he bred Italian queens and sent them to all parts of Australia and New Zealand. He also imported Holy Land bees and other varieties. Owing to ill-health, Hopkins removed to Auckland in 1887 and there organised the New Zealand Beekeepers' Association, and promoted the foul brood and bee diseases bill of 1888 (which was unfortunately shelved). In 1905 he was appointed Government apiarist, and in 1907 and 1908 he got the legislation passed. He started the apiary at Ruakura state farm and the departmental bulletins on bee culture. In 1883 Hopkins was running the New Zealand Illustrated Bee Journal. He died on 20 Jul 1925.

Hopkins, op. cit, and Practical Bee Keeping; biography of Hopkins (New York State College of Agriculture, Cornell University); N.Z. Jour. Agric., 20 Aug 1925; N.Z. Herald, 21 Jul 1925.

Reference: Volume 1, page 223

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