Wellington Philosophical Society. 411 



cations from Mr. Travers and other members relative to the early history of 

 the Maoris, and what will have even greater interest, the traditions that have 

 been preserved by the small remnant of the Moriori race that now survives in 

 the Chatham Islands. 



There is one branch of investigation relative to the native race to the 

 importance of which I venture to invite the attention of medical men in this 

 colony who have opportunities for collecting such infoi-mation, and that is the 

 nature and especially the early history of the diseases that are peculiar to the 

 natives, and to which they were subject before the arrival of Europeans. I 

 will only instance as an example one disease, respecting which it is desirable 

 that full information should be obtained, and that is leprosy, as from remarks 

 that lately appeared in the newspapers relative to the occurrence of leprosy in 

 the Sandwich Islands, I infer that it is not generally known that there is a form 

 of tliis disease amongst the Maoris, although it is mentioned by Mr. Colenso 

 and other writers. I have myself seen eight or ten cases in the interior 

 of this Island, and I observe that during a recent visit to Stewart Island, 

 Professor McGregor found two well marked cases even in that comparatively 

 ungenial climate. The unfortunate victims of this disease were, I believe, in 

 former times kept carefully secluded, but I fear that this provision for pre- 

 venting the spread of the disease, like many other old customs of the natives, 

 is now less rigidly enforced. In the case of the Maoris it is usually supposed 

 that it can be traced to the use of improper food, but, whatever be the cause, 

 experience in other countries where this insidious disease prevails dictates that 

 proper seclusion of the sufferers should be maintained. 



Leaving to others the discussion of purely historical and traditional matters 

 affecting the Maoris, I shall advert to the period at which the gigantic Moa 

 birds were exterminated, and the circumstances that led to their destruction. 

 Communications relative to this subject occupy a very large share of the last 

 volume of our Transactions^ and conflicting opinions are expressed which 

 deserve a brief notice. 



This question has an important bearing on many inquiries that should 

 occupy our attention in New Zealand. You are all well aware that this 

 country possesses an indigenous fauna and flora that is peculiar to these 

 islands. The period at which it first acquired this insular character is a most 

 interesting subject for investigation by the geologist, and the period of the 

 first interruption of that isolation from other zoological and botanical regions 

 which must have been effected by the introduction of the human race is not 

 less important in its relation to the diffusion and persistence of types of 

 animals and plants. 



The destruction of the Moa must have been one of the most obvious and 

 direct results of this, accompanied no doubt by extensive alteration in the 



