PREFACE. x] 
It now only remains for me to express my grateful thanks to the 
Education Department, under whose auspices the work has been pre- 
pared, for the readiness with which it has co-operated with me in 
endeavouring to render it as complete and reliable as possible. In this 
connection I would specially mention the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, 
Minister of Education, and Mr. G. Hogben, M.A., the Inspector-General 
of Schools. My thanks are also due to the Council of the Auckland 
Institute and Museum for kindly allowing me to engage a substitute to 
perform a portion of my duties at the Museum during the progress of 
the work. Finally, I have to express my obligations to the Government 
Printer for the assiduous care with which he has attended to the passage 
of the work through the press. 
Auckland, January, 1906. 
