THE KERMADEC ISLANDS.

RETURN OF SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION.

AUCKLAND, November 16.

i The Hinemoa, which arrived from the Kermadec Inlands to-day, brought back the scientific expedition that has for the past 10 months been carrying out investigations in that little-known dependency of the Dominion. The objects of the expedition^ were to study the animal and plant life, as well as the geological character of the islands, and to take complete meteorological observations. The members, of the expedition have accomplished the main features of their programme, but owing to th<* unexpectedly ear|y arrival of the Hinemoa have not completed many of the details., The party consisted of Messrs T. Iredale, C. Warden, and W. R. Oliver, of Christchurch; W. C. Wallace, of Timaru; and S. R. Oliver, of Tauranga. Mr Iredale devoted himself principally to birds and shells; the Messrs Oliver brothers took botany andsgeology ; Mr Wallace took entomology, and Mr Warden meteorology. The members of the party enjoyed excel, lent health during their stay on the island, and they all express themselves well satis* fied with the results of the expedition*. They found all the things, they state, thab they expected to find, and also a number of things that they did not expect to discover. There were daily excursions to the different parts of the islands whenever the weather permitted, and the outside islands of the group were visited when possible. Ail the members of the party enjoyed gcod health.