11 
verformed by Sir David Monro it nis 
exploration of a large part of North-eastern 
Nelson and Marlborough, during which he 
made many interesting discoveries, such 
as the splendid olearia insignis, helichrysum 
coralloides, celmisia Monroi, senecio Mon- 
roi, and others. Like others who have 
been earlier in the field, he also sent his 
collections to Kew. 
Mr W. T. L. Travers was also a botanist 
of this early period who receives well- 
merited commendation from Mr Cheeseman. 
He arrived in Nelson in 1849 and about 
1854 he took up the study of the alpine 
dora of the South Island. He made many 
excursions into remote and _ little-explored 
districts, and formed large collections, which 
he also sent to Kew. It is recorded that 
his discoveries included many singular and 
prominent species, and the genus Traversia 
(now reduced to Senecio) was named 
in his honour by Sir J. D. Hooker. 
Mr ‘Travers, in those days of 60 years 
ago, contributed largely to the knowledge 
of the botany of New Zealand, and rightly 
holds a high place among those who in 
subsequent years profited by the close and 
intelligent observation of our indigenous 
plant life 
Sir Julius tlaast and Dr Hochstetter were 
contemporaries in New Zealand in the 
closing years of the fifties, and after the 
latter had left the colony in 1860 Sir 
Julius Haast accepted an engagement from 
the Nelson Government and made _ himself 
familiar with the alpine vegetation of the 
province. He was in 1861 appointed geolo- 
gist by the Canterbury Provincial Govern- 
ment. Then followed a series of expedi- 
tions into the Southern Alps, the botanical 
results of which, apart from his more im- 
mediate work of geological investigation, 
were most important and gave much _ in- 
formation concerning the alpine flora of 
the colony. His expeditions and researches 
continued for a period of 10 years, and 
until his death in 1887 he manifested warm 
interest in the botanical section of his 
seieitific studies. Many of his collections 
were sent to Kew and his name is com- 
memorated in the genus Haastia. 
