These Notes were first issued in 1860, the title page stating that they were "by the Governor". In 1861 they also appeared as part of Paper E-2 in the Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives of New Zealand, and in the present Revised Copy form, but without statement of authorship. Although subsequently and widely attributed to C. W. Richmond, it is now clear from entries in Thomas Gore Browne's manuscript diary, and other sources, that the Notes were compiled by F. D. Bell, Frederick Whitaker and Browne.