Preface To Third Edition.

The second edition of the Stories of Banks Peninsula has been out of print for some years, and, owing to my father's death, the duty of editing the third edition has fallen to my lot. My qualifications in the way of knowledge of early history were not all they might have been but I have endeavoured throughout to avoid having any pet theories and working them into the context as is done by so many modern collaborators. It is gratifying to note that after the new theories advanced a few years ago with regard td both Maori and European history, the story as collected by anon Stack and Mr H. C. Jacobson in 1883 has been substantiated, except for a few minor errors in dates. Many of those who wish to show how false the old accounts are forget that they are undertaking, after a lapse of fifty years' time, to know more about the various incidents than those who were actually participants. In the preface to the second edition my father speaks of publishing a third and larger issue, and he had collected a large amount of material in readiness. It is unfortunate that all his manuscripts were burnt I have collected a great deal of extra matter, pages [unclear: 139 147, 220, 272, 335, 380], being all new material, and hope that the public will consider it a not unworthy substitute for what was lost. I wish to record my thanks to those who have assisted me, and to Messrs Jas. Hay and W. D Wilkins in particular. I may say that without the help of these two gentlemen the task of editing this work would have proved much more arduous than I have found it to be.

In conclusion, I would ask a kindly criticism of my effort to enlarge the work on the lines suggested by my father. It is a matter of regret to me that the task should have fallen to my less capable hands.