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Note of Acknowledgment

As in the case of all my previous books, I am under many obligations to friends for assistance cheerfully given and services gladly rendered. The inspiration to write this book came out of an invitation to visit the town of Waimate, in South Canterbury, and to Messrs. E. C. Studholme, D. T. Larnach, H. Beattie, and Captain Murison my special thanks are due, not alone for that inspiration, but for the loyalty with which they have stood by me throughout the task. In no less a degree I have had the support of Mr. H. D. Skinner, Curator of the Otago University Museum, and of his assistant, Mr. David Teviotdale, whose experience in the field and in the camp were unreservedly placed at my disposal, thereby adding greatly to my store of knowledge, and doing it in the most pleasant way. Not only have Messrs. Skinner and Teviotdale ungrudgingly communicated to me all that I wished to draw from their wide experience in Moa-hunter problems, but they have kindly read through my manuscript and improved it with numerous helpful suggestions. Mr. H. S. McCully has also placed me deeply in his debt by his great kindness in motoring me through the hinterland of the Waitaki, and in initiating me into the lore of the stone tool, which played such an important part in the life of the Moa-hunter. Nor must I fail to express my gratitude to Mr. J. B. page x Chapman, the owner of the site of the Waitaki Moa-hunters' camp, for the splendid spirit in which he met my request to explore that field. The fullest permission was given to extract from the ground such secrets as it was possible to read there, every assistance was rendered, and every facility offered which could make one's stay in the wilderness as pleasant as possible. As one working in the cause of science, I warmly appreciate the interested co-operation of a lover of science.

Dr. W. R. B. Oliver, Director of the Dominion Museum, and Mr. W. J. Phillipps, F.L.S., of the same institution; Dr. J. Marwick, of the Geological Survey; and Mr. R. H. Steele, of the Waipounamu Maori Association, have each in his own way been kindness itself in assisting with information of a more or less technical nature. For the kindly interest they have taken in my work, and for acts of timely help, I have also to thank the Right Reverend Herbert Williams, Bishop of Waiapu; Messrs. T. W. Downes, of Whanganui, and John Houston, LL.B., of Hawera. Mr. C. R. H. Taylor, Librarian, and his staff have been unremitting in making available to me the wide range of publications in the Turnbull Library, upon which I have been obliged to draw for facts not within my personal knowledge. To Mr. P. Riddick, a very especial expression of thanks is due for his great service in reading the proofs—a task more exacting than spectacular, but still indispensable, and deserving of generous recognition.