Report of Darwin Centenary Expedition, New Zealand Committee

It will be recalled that the expedition consisting of the following members: Dr. Martin Holdgate, United Kingdom (Leader), Mr. G. A. Knox, New Zealand (Zoologist and Deputy Leader), Dr. E. Godley, New Zealand (Botanist), Dr. W. A. Watters, New Zealand (Geologist), arrived in Chile in September, 1958, where they were joined by Dr. W. Kuschel, an Entomologist, as the Chilean member of the Expedition.

Full reports of itinerary have been circulated to all branches, and it remains to report that Dr. Holdgate returned to England and the New Zealand members to New Zealand at the end of March, 1959.

It is clear that the general biological and geological survey of Chile from the island of Chiloe, south to Tierra de Fuego, has resulted in increased knowledge and understanding of the main features of this region and in particular allowed of a new assessment of parallels and relationships to New Zealand problems in the same field. Collections and records have for convenience been shipped from Punta Arenas direct to the United Kingdom, and all material appropriate for further study in New Zealand is to be forwarded from there. We have been advised by Dr. D. C. Martin, Assistant Secretary of the Royal Society, that a meeting of the British Committee is shortly to be held in consultation with Dr. Holdgate, so that proposals for the working up of the material, the publication of reports and any recommendations for further work, either in South America or significant related regions, may be submitted to the Royal Society of New Zealand.

It remains to express on behalf of the Committee, and to convey on behalf of Dr. Martin, appreciation of the financial support given by branches and individuals to the last minute plan to include Dr. Watters in the party, and to the employing authorities for the leave granted to the three New Zealand members of the Expedition. Congratulations are also extended to the Expedition members themselves for their contribution to the excellent teamwork which has already shown such promising results both in the scientific field and in the sphere of international relations.

R. A. Falla,