Hamilton. — Present Position of New Zealand Palceontology. 5^ 



of expressing my views on the subject of the description of the fossils in the 

 Museum, although that part of the collection has not passed imder my charge. 



" I think that it is imperative that steps should be taken at once to have 

 the fossils (other than the Tertiary fossils) got together and prepared for 

 examination and description by an expert. Without this preliminary 

 step no arrangement could be come to with any expert, either as 

 regards the description and figuring or the publication of results. He 

 must know whether he is to deal with hundreds or thousands of speci- 

 mens. This matter of getting the material together is urgent, as the 

 only person thoroughly acquainted with the whole of the specimens is 

 Mr. McKay. 



" I concur in the suggestions made generally, and I can assure you that 

 the feeling of geologists and men of science all over the world is that this 

 matter is urgent. The conditions under which the arrangements are made 

 with the experts employed must be carefully framed, and will need much 

 consideration. " I am, sir, your obedient servant, 



" A. Hamilton, Director." 



Further suggestions were asked for, and I \\Tote as follows : — 



" To the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. " Feb. 26, 1904. 



" Sir,— 



" In reply to your memo, of the 24th instant, re the fossils of the 

 New Zealand Geological Survey at present in the Museum under my charge, 

 and the proposed arrangements for their description and pubhcation, I 

 have the honour to make the following suggestions and remarks : — 



" 1. Preparatory Work 



" (a.) That the Mines Department be asked to instruct their officials 

 to get together in a convenient place all the specimens of fossils now in 

 their collections up to the close of the Cainozoic period, arranged generally 

 under the following heads : — 



" Hydrozoa,] 

 Actinozoa, 

 Echinoderms, 

 Annelids, 

 Crustacea, 

 Polyzoa, 

 Brachiopoda. 

 Lamellibranchi ata. 

 Gasteropoda, 

 Cephalopoda. 



" (6.) That the number of specimens in each class be ascertained within 

 reasonable limits, and that an estimate be made of the probable number 

 of species. 



" (c.) That the specimens be repacked in strong cases, and plainly 

 labelled and numbered at the side and at the end of the case. A more 

 detailed description of the specimens to be entered against the number of 

 the case in a record-book. It is presimaed that all specimens have already 

 their locality number. When this preparatory work has been done,* which 

 will take some months, the following steps should be taken : — 



* It is not quite finished yet. 



