page 9

Preface

Most of this book first appeared in The Press, and I wish to thank the editor for allowing me to republish it.

Notes and references are a nuisance in a book for general readers so I have given none, but I intend to annotate two or three copies, one of which I hope to deposit in the Canterbury College Library for the use of students; a list of my chief written authorities is in the appendix.

I knew of many of the early runholders and their men, and in 1894 began writing down notes of what they told me about the old days. Since I made up my mind to write a book, I have got in touch with as many as possible of their descendants, and with contemporary runholders. I hope these all realized then how grateful I was for their help, and I thank them again now, but they are far too many to mention by name.

I have recorded some unidentified names and many trivial details because they may be useful someday to people studying or editing early Canterbury letters and diaries.