There remains the pleasant duty of acknowledging help. Many
persons have given me help, whose names can hardly be listed
here. A friend, an acquaintance, or sometimes even a stranger,
has often sent a single quotation of value, or an explanation
of a single word. The Editors of many newspapers have helped
not a little by the insertion of a letter or a circular. To
all these helpers, and I reckon their number at nearly 200, I
tender my hearty thanks.
Various officers of the Melbourne Public Library, and my friend
Mr. Edward H. Bromby, the Librarian of this University, have
rendered me much assistance. I have often been fortunate
enough to obtain information from the greatest living authority
on a particular subject: from the Baron von Mueller, from Sir
Frederick M'Coy, or from Mr. A. W. Howitt. [Alas! since I
penned this sentence, the kind and helpful Baron has been taken
from us, and is no longer the greatest living authority on
Australian Botany.] My friend and colleague, Professor Baldwin
Spencer, a most earnest worker in the field of Australian
science, gave many hours of valuable time to set these pages
right in the details of scientific explanations.
Mr. J. G. Luehmann of Melbourne has kindly answered various
questions about Botany, and Mr. A. J. North, of Sydney, in
regard to certain birds. Mr. T. S. Hall, of the Biological
Department of this University, and Mr. J. J. Fletcher, of
Sydney, the Secretary of the Linnaean Society of New South
Wales, have rendered me much help. The Rev. John Mathew, of
Coburg, near Melbourne, has thrown much light on aboriginal
words. The Rev. E. H. Sugden, Master of Queen's College in
this University, has furnished a large number of useful
quotations. His name is similarly mentioned, <i>honoris
causa</i>, in Dr. Murray's Preface to Part I. of the `O. E. D.'
Mr. R. T. Elliott of Worcester College, Oxford, has given
similar help. The Master himself,--the Master of all who
engage in Dictionary work,--Dr. Murray, of Oxford, has kindly
forwarded to me a few pithy and valuable comments on my
proof-streets. He also made me a strong appeal never to pass
on information from any source without acknowledgment. This,
the only honest course, I have striven scrupulously to follow;
but it is not always easy to trace the sources whence
information has been derived.
When gaps in the sequence of quotations were especially
apparent on the proofs, Mr. W. Ellis Bird, of Richmond,
Victoria, found me many illustrative passages. For New Zealand
words a goodly supply of quotations was contributed by Miss
Mary Colborne-Veel of Christchurch, author of a volume of
poetry called <i>The Fairest of the Angels</i>, by her sister,
Miss Gertrude Colborne-Veel, and by Mr. W. H. S. Roberts of
Oamaru, author of a little book called <i>Southland in</i>
1856. In the matter of explanation of the origin and meaning
of New Zealand terms, Dr. Hocken of Dunedin, Mr. F. R. Chapman
of the same city, and Mr. Edward Tregear of Wellington, author
of the <i>Maori Polynesian Dictionary</i>, and Secretary of the
Polynesian Society, have rendered valuable and material
assistance. Dr. Holden of Bellerive, near Hobart, was perhaps
my most valued correspondent. After I had failed in one or two
quarters to enlist Tasmanian sympathy, he came to the rescue,
and gave me much help on Tasmanian words, especially on the
Flora and the birds; also on Queensland Flora and on the whole
subject of Fishes. Dr. Holden also enlisted later the help of
Mr. J. B. Walker, of Hobart, who contributed much to enrich my
proofs. But the friend who has given me most help of all has
been Mr. J. Lake of St. John's College, Cambridge. When the
Dictionary was being prepared for press, he worked with me for
some months, very loyally putting my materials into shape.
Birds, Animals, and Botany he sub-edited for me, and much of
the value of this part of the Book, which is almost an
Encyclopaedia rather than a Dictionary, is due to his ready
knowledge, his varied attainments, and his willingness to
undertake research.
To all who have thus rendered me assistance I tender hearty
thanks. It is not their fault if, as is sure to be the case,
defects and mistakes are found in this Dictionarv. But should
the Book be received with public favour, these shall be
corrected in a later edition.