CORRESPONDENCE WITH PROFESSOR OWEN AS TO COPIES OF GEOLOGICAL MAP OF NEW ZEALAND, FURNISHED HIM BY THE GOVERNMENT.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1872 Session I, G-46

G.—No. 46.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH PROFESSOR OWEN AS TO COPIES OF GEOLOGICAL MAP OF NEW ZEALAND, FURNISHED HIM BY THE GOVERNMENT.

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BY COMMAND OE HIS EXCELLENCY.

WELLINGTON.

1872.

G.—No. 46,

CORRESPONDENCE WITH PROFESSOR OWEN.

No. 1. Professor Owen to Dr. Hectoe. [Extract.] British Museum, 27th February, 1871. I have scrutinized with much interest your map, looking more particularly for all the localities from whence I have received moa and other extinct bird bones. Some such map I have to append to the volume which will contain all my published memoirs on that subject. I shall bo sorry to part with the copy before mo, but will not delay to fulfil your wish for its transmission to the Geological Society. Can I obtain from any publisher, here or in New Zealand, another copy of this map ? The number of copies of my volume on extinct New Zealand birds will not exceed 150. If I could have as many impressions (150) of your admirable map, which gives information in a concentrated form, I would gladly defray the cost with due acknowledgment.

No. 2. Memoeandum from Dr. Hectoe to Mr. Coopee. The map referred to by Professor Owen is the geological map of New Zealand. I would recommend that I get authority to furnish the 150 copies he requires, as it will be a most useful way of circulating the map, and as 1,000 'copies are to be printed, a sufficient number will be left for circulation in the Colony. 13th May, 1871. James Hectoe. Approved. —No charge to be made to Professor Owen. 26th May, 1871. W. Gisboene.

No. 3. Professor Owen to Dr. Hectoe. Sib, — British Museum, London, 11th June, 1872. I have to acknowledge the reception of 150 copies of your geological map of New Zealand, which tho Government of New Zealand has been pleased to supply me with, free of cost, for incorporation with my work " On the Extinct Birds of New Zealand." I beg to return my most respectful and grateful thanks to the Government for this valuable addition to tho illustrations of that work, whereby its utility to naturalists, and especially to future investigators of the fossils of the Colony, will be enhanced through the indications which the map may supply or illustrate of the localities where remains of the Moas (Dinornis Palapteryx, &c.,) have been found. I have, &c, Bichaed Owen.

No. 4. Professor Owen to Dr. Hectoe. [Extract.] British Museum, Mth July, 1872. I have read with great interest your admirable summary of the distribution in space and relations to time of tho Moas, and find that it closely accords with inferences I have drawn from all the facts hitherto known to me. I allude to your paper in the last number of Nature. Your letter of the 15th May, with the gratifying announcement of my election as honorary member of the New Zealand Institute, reached me by the same post. I feel greatly obliged to Mr. Gisborne for the favourable view he has kindly taken of my request for the copies of your admirable map, which, if liberally supplied to me, I should append to my, I trust, shortly forthcoming general work on the wingless or flightless birds of New Zealand. I shall put, for my own instruction, letter D on the most prolific Moa localities, and d where solitary or few specimens may have been picked up.