﻿

PREFACE 



In the present volume the aiTangeraent of the Proceedings and Transactions 

 which was adopted in the first two volumes has been again reverted to, as the 

 separate publication of the former in anticipation of the whole work was not 

 found to be so satisfactory and convenient to members as was anticipated. 



The Board of Governoi's having decided that in publication preference 

 should be given to those papers which add to the knowledge of observed facts 

 relative to New Zealand, several papers of a general character have been held 

 back, or are only given in an abridged form. 



The editor has to acknowledge the assistance which he received from 

 Mr. J. T. Thomson, F.R.G.S., in revising in the press the first proofs of his 

 learned paper on the Whence of the Maori. 



The facilities offered to the Board, through the courtesy of the Hon. the 

 Colonial Secretary, for having the illustrations lithographed at the Government 

 press, cannot pass unnoticed, while they have again to thank Mr. John 

 Buchanan for the great cai-e and skill which he has exercised as draughtsman. 

 It will be observed that this year the illustrations have, in most cases, been 

 drawn direct on the stone, which gives to them a more artistic effect. 



The assistance received from Mr. B. B. Gore in preparing the Meteoro- 

 logical Report, which appears in the Appendix, must also be acknowledged. 



In a volume consisting of articles of such varied characters mistakes will 

 necessarily occui*, and the chief of these are printed in an eiTata slip. It is, 

 however, again necessary to call the attention of authors and the secretaries of 

 societies to the desirability of forwarding papers and minutes of proceedings 

 in such a shape that no re-copying may be required, nor questions arise as to 

 the author's exact meaning. 



It is satisfactory to note that the list of ordinary members of the Affiliated 

 Societies is still maintained, and that the number of papers contributing 

 original observations and researches shows a marked increase. 



Wellington, 10th May, 1872. 





