378 Transactions. 



from the South Cape of Stewart Island, the southernmost point 

 of New Zealand. The Snares are 60 miles to the south-west, 

 the Auckland Group 190 miles south by west, Campbell Island 

 330 miles south by east, Macquarie Island 570 miles south-west 

 by south, the Antipodes Islands 490 miles east-south-east, the 

 Bounty Islands 490 miles east. 



These islands present an exceedingly interesting flora for 

 the study of the botanist. First, it occupies an important 

 position because of the light it throws upon the history of the 

 flora of New Zealand itself. Dr. Cockayne (1903) considers 

 that here are preserved remnants of an old vegetation which at 

 one time spread more widely over the whole of New Zealand, 

 and also further south in previous land connections. Now, 

 whatever may have been the case in past ages, these islands 

 are far removed from any other large tracts of land, and conse- 

 quently, where natural conditions have not been disturbed, 

 they letain their primitive flora intact. 



Again, in certain parts, especially on Campbell Island, man 

 has recently made settlements and introduced a disturbing 

 element by seeking to " reclaim " certain portions of the island. 

 Here, then, is afforded to the botanist an excellent opportunity 

 of finding out " the general laws that govern such vegetation- 

 modifications, for the gradual changes from purely virgin forma- 

 tions to final reclamation can be observed and the factors bring- 

 ing this about noted."* Then, again, these islands are the homes 

 of certain remarkable plants which are found here and nowhere 

 else, such as Stilbocarpa polaris, the species of Pleurophyllum, 

 and Olearia lyallii. 



The only opportunity the botanist has of visiting these 

 islands — excepting, of course, the special opportunities afforded 

 by scientific discovery expeditions — is by accompanying the 

 Government boat on her trip round the outlying lighthouses 

 and islands to leave stores, &c. This trip is made twice a year, 

 once in winter and again in summer. The weather is often very 

 rough and makes landing difficult ; Snares Island is sometimes 

 not visited for this reason. Then, again, on a trip such as this 

 the time allotted to each stopping-place is necessarily very limited, 

 and much has to be done in the way of making notes, collecting 

 material, &c, in an all-too-short time. 



Previous to 1903 the botanical visits to the islands had all 

 been made during the summer trip of the boat, and there are 

 several accounts of the summer aspect of the vegetation from vari- 

 ous botanists, the fullest being by the late Professor T. Kirk.f 



* Cockayne (1903), p. 301. 



t " On the Botany of the Antarctic Islands" (1891). 



