380 Transactions. 



Art. XXXV. — On the VegefMion of the West port District. 

 By W. TowNSON. 



[Pmd before the Auckland In^ititute, 3rd October, 1006.] 

 Plates XIV and XIVa. 

 In presenting this catalogue of the plants of Westport and its 

 surrounding district I feel sorry that I could not stay long 

 enough there to make it more complete, as I had expected to 

 spend at least another year, workings up the distribution and 

 altitudinal range of my various specimens, and in verifying the 

 notes taken during my botanical wanderings. However, I found 

 that to be impossible, and consequently the descriptive portion 

 of the catalogue is deficient in some respects. 



A few years before the late Thomas Kirk's death I collected 

 many specimens for him in a desultory sort of way, and he 

 frequently asked me to take the matter up more earnestly and 

 to prepare a list of the plants of the district. However, as I was 

 engaged in a business which demanded close attention and in 

 which I had little leisure, I could not see my way to accede to 

 his request, but subsequently I was advised to reconsider the 

 matter by Mr. Cheeseman, and I yielded, and for the last few 

 years have devoted most of my spare time and my vacations 

 to the work which it entailed. 



All my specimens were sent up to Auckland for Mr. Cheese- 

 man's inspection, and w^ere carefully studied and identified by 

 him, and proved of service in the preparation of the " Manual 

 of the New Zealand Flora." I only claim to have collected the 

 plants, all the technical work being done by Mr. Cheeseman, who 

 was ever ready with kindly encouragement, and gave me much 

 useful advice as to the prosecution of my work. 



I have never regretted consenting to prepare this list, although 

 I had no conception that it would prove to be such a big under- 

 taking, for thousands of miles had to be walked, over hill country 

 and plain, in fair weather and foul, and numerous difficulties had 

 to be surmounted. But in looking back upon these years of 

 wandering, when all my senses were on the alert, and my thews 

 and sinews were strung to stand the strain of the longest day's 

 tramp — when the book of nature was no more a sealed book for 

 me, and the trees, plants, and birds became my familiar friends — 

 they were undoubtedly the happiest years of my life. 



I do not for a moment imagine that I have collected all 

 the plants which are to be obtained in the area covered, for 

 some of the localities were remote and not very accessible, and 

 only admitted of a flying visit at one season of the year. The 



