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Note of Acknowledgment.

To me one of the most pleasant experiences in connection with the compilation of this book has been the readiness with which all my friends to whom I have appealed for assistance have lent their aid. I am especially indebted to the staffs of the Turnbull Library, the General Assembly Library, and the Wellington Public Library for the freedom with which they have placed the books, documents, &c., in their great collections at my disposal. This has been a wonderful help, and a help greatly enhanced by the extent to which my slender knowledge of French has often been supplemented by their wider learning. For the translation of some of the more important documents I am especially indebted to Professor G. W. von Zedlitz, whose help has been invaluable, and whose courtesy and generosity in this respect are beyond praise. In like manner I have again been placed under deep obligation to Mr. H. E. M. Fildes, whose extensive knowledge of New Zealand history has many times been drawn upon, and whose meticulous regard for detail has repeatedly saved me from error. Rare books from his fine collection have ever been at my disposal with unvarying liberality, and many rough places in the path of research have been made smooth by his generous co-operation. Mr. G. J. Black, of Gisborne, has made me his debtor by placing at my disposal much of the material he has gathered during years of collecting of historical matter about Banks Peninsula; and for the Christian names of such of the original settlers as I have been able to print I am indebted to Mr. W. Stewart, Commissioner of Crown page xLands for Canterbury. To Mr. R. A. Loughnan and his sister-in-law, Madame Webb, I owe a number of contributions from their store of chatty reminiscences of the original French settlers; the Hon. W. H. Triggs, M.L.C., and Dr. G. H. Scholefield have assisted with valuable suggestions; while Mr. Johannes Andersen, whose writings on Banks Peninsula are well known, and Mr. T. M. Hinkley also have been helpful in the same direction. Extracts from the files of French newspapers in the British Museum have been most obligingly procured for me by Mr. A. P. Cattanach, of London, and Mr. Charles Victor Langlois, Keeper of the Archives Nationales at Paris, has been ever diligent and courteous in answering my inquiries for information. To Miss Jacobson, of Akaroa, I am obliged for one of the illustrations, and to Mr. H. M. Stowell for checking the names of Southern natives.

Finally, I have to make my grateful acknowledgments to the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, Prime Minister, whose interest in, and practical sympathy for, historical research has made the publication of this volume possible.

The written authorities consulted will be found in the Bibliography at the end of the book.