KIRK, THOMAS WILLIAM (1856-1936) was born in Coventry, a son of T. Kirk (q.v.), with whom he came to Auckland (1863). Educated at St James's School and Auckland College and Grammar School, he entered the geological survey as a cadet, and was on the staff of Dr Hector (1874-91). During this period he contributed to the New Zealand Institute, Nature, the French Journal of Conchology and other periodicals. He was elected a member of the New Zealand Institute (1878), of the Geological Society of Australasia (1887), of the Microscopic Society of London (1889) and a fellow of the Linnaean Society (1890).

In 1892 Kirk was appointed head biologist in charge of the horticulture division of the Department of Agriculture. The period of 18 years that he controlled the branch coincided with a great expansion of the fruit-growing industry, and Kirk's contribution to its success is embodied in a succession of scientific pamphlets and annual reports of high technical value. He initiated the series of leaflets for farmers, writing very many of them himself. He advised and carried out the first experiment in biological control of insect pests in New Zealand, using with complete success the Australian ladybird (vedalia) to control the cottony cushion scale.

Kirk married (1883) Edith Dixon Callcott (d. 1938), granddaughter of Jonas Woodward. He died on 19 May 1936.

Cycl. NZ, i (p); Kirk, op. cit.; The Dominion, 20 May 1936.

Reference: Volume 1, page 252

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