THE SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7110, 23 April 1910, Page 9

THE SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND

'•'The Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand.” Reports on the Geology, /oology, and Botany of Ukj Islands lying to the South of New Zealand, ha/ied mainly on observations arsd oollcctionri mad© during an expedition jii tin? Governmen t stea.nier Ilinornoa- (Captain J. Rollons), in November, 1907. Edited by Charles Chilton, ALA.. D.Sc.. J'.L.S., Professor of Biology, Canterbury College, University of N f <nv Zealand. J'ubJishwl by the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. In two vohirrv.*. Printed for the Society by .tabu Mackav, Oovernmont Printer. Wellington, N.Z.. J9W*

In tlie Introduction to his "Flora Antarctica’' Sir Jam os Hooker declared that the fact that; soni© of the most peculiar production of tho Subantarelic Islands ftre confined to tho narrowest limits is a strong argument in favour of a general distribution of vegetable life over separate npots on the globe, and "hence/’ ho argued, "it will appear that islands so situated furnish the materials for a rigid comparison of the effects of geographical position ar.d tho various meteorological pbacnomona on vegetation, and for acquiring a knowledge of tho groat laws according to which plants arc tiLtribuied over Hie face of the globe." 'the credit for having initiated the project of despatching an expedition of scientists to tho islands, in order not only to extend the magnetic survey of New Zealand to tho various groups, but to further investigate the geology, zoology, and botany of the islands, is due to the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, which, iii 1906, appointed a deputation to tho lion. Robert AlcNab, then Minister for Lands, and asked, for State assistance in the matter. Tho project was warmly supported by the Otago Institute', and wus finally endorsed at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute in. January, 1907. The result was that tho Government agreed to land a scientific party on the Auckland Islands, and another on Campbell island, during tho annual trip of the Government steamer ilineincra, ami to call for these parties on the return journey after the vessel had visited the Antipode* and Bounty Islands. Grants of money were made by tho State towards the compilation and piloting of a permanent record of tho proceedings of the. scientists taking part therein. This record i* now beiore ue in the shape of two handsome quarto volumes, containing many illustrations and maps, and constituting a contribution to scientific literature of the highest importance and"”value. After a brief chronological narrative of the ex•pedition comes an Historical Introduction from tho pen of Air AlcNab, brief but full of interesting iiiiorinafToii. Some of the facts her© stated will bo familiar to readers of "Murihuku,” but others, relating to the discovery and early history of the islands, have not been previously placed together in a connective narrative. Dr Chilton, next gives an admirably condensed account of the scientific investigation of the islands, from the time of D'* Orville's visit in 1839 to the present day. After this appear in due order the papers in which the various scientific inquirers who comprised the two parties record their experiences, and set forth the result of their observations and researches. Tho Auckland Island party comprised Messrs C. G. Farr. D.Sc., ami H. D. Cook, AI.Sc., both of Canterbury College, who had; charge of the Magnetic Survey; L. Cockayne, Pfa.D., Christchurch, Ecological Botany; J. S, ‘Tennant, M.A., B.Sc., Wellington, Botany; B. C. Aston, F.1.C., Wellington, Soil survey; R. Speight, M.A., B.Sc., Canterbury College, and A- AI. Finlayson, B. Dunedin, Geology; W. B. Bear ham, D.Sc., F.R.fe., Otago Museum, General Zoology; G. V. Hudson, F.Ef.S., Wellington, Entomology; E. R- Waite, F.L.S., Canterbury Museum, Ichtthyology; and S. Page, . B.Sc., Canterbury College, Photography. Captain Dorrieu Smith, of tho Scilly Isles, also made bo«tanical investigations. The Campbell Island party consisted of Messrs H. R. Skey, B.Sc., Magnetic Observatory, Christchurch, and E. Kidson, AX.A., M.Sc., Canterbury College, Alagnotic Survey; R. M. Laing, M.A., 8.50., Christchurch, Ecological Botany; JCrosby Smith, F.L.S., Invercargill, General Botany; K. B. Kirk, AI.A., Victoria College, Wellington, Botany and General Zoology; P. Marshall, M.A., D.Sc., F. Otago University, and RBrowno, Feuding, Geology; C. Chilton, M.A., D.Sc., F.E.S., Canterbury College, General Zoology; . J. B. Mayne, AI.A.. Christchurch, Botany and Zoology, and G. R. Marrincr. F.R.Af.S., Wanganui.' Entomology' and General Zoology.' Tho greater part of the arrangements connected with tho expedition, fell upon Dr C. Coleridge Farr, who acted’ as secretary throughout, and the onerous and honourable duty of editing the various papers has been discharged by Dr Chilton. Most of the mom bora of tho two parties have contributed to the record, but some of the papers are due to tho kind co-operation of specialists in England and on tho American Continent. Of tho various papers those appealing most to the non-expert reader of scientific tastes will be, in addition to those by Air AlcNab ami Dr Chilton, already mentioned, those on. tho zoology' and geology of tho island*. Air Waites article ou the vertobrata of the Auckland Islands ia specially notable for the intimate and careful study made by that gentleman of tho penguins, sea-lions, albatrosses, and gulls, of which he gives a very interesting account. Students of botany will rejoice in the article* of Dr Cockayne, J. F. Cheesoman, ar*d It. M. Doing, whilst Air G, V. Hudson's General Notes on the Entomology of the Southern Islands are rendered, specially interesting b.y a series of finely executed coloured plates which accompany and elucidate the text. Professor Marshall's paper, and that by Messrs Speight and Finiayeon, which deal with, tho geology and physiography of tho Islands, aro beautifully illustrated, and - should , bo read by all who are interested in the theory, long hold by biologists, that the existence of a land connection between Now Zealand and a subantarctic continent would explain certain anomalies iu the distribution* of pUinta and animals. Messrs Speight and Fitihiysoii consider there is convincing proof that a largo continental area existed, in the region, and that although "there is w decided evidence from the Auckland Islands to %how that tho extension was a recent one, there aro facta which suggest it, and nothing has been found to contradict it." Mahy of tho articles are accompanied by illustrations from photograph* taken by membex's of the two parties, and by the official photographer, Mr . Page. some of those showing tho plant formation and growths being of> exceptional beauty. A valuable bibliography and an exhaustive index fittingly conclude the second volume of a work which is tho most important and valuable contribution New Zealand hag yet made to tho literature of science. The Government Printer ind hi* staff must bo complimented upon tho excellence of the typography, the zlearness and beauty of the coloured and half-tone illustrations and the high standard generally to which the mechanical execution of the work has attained. Never ha* the money of the State been, put to better service in the can*© of science and literature than in assisting U> render possible the preparation awl publication of this monument to the enterprise. energy, and ability for observation and imestigation of our New Zoa‘and scientists.