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Rh of the New Zealand Institute. Very few volumes, from the foundation of the Institute to the time of his death, are without a communication from his pen. It is true that in his later descriptive writings he adopted views as to the circumscription of species which are in conflict with those held by all other New Zealand botanists, and thus introduced a vast number of synonyms into the flora; but that is a circumstance which must not detract from the recognition of his undoubted services to the botany of New Zealand.

Dr. Andrew Sinclair was originally a surgeon in the Royal Navy, and first became known as a botanist from the collections he made while attached to the surveying expedition of H.M.S. "Sulphur" to the Pacific coasts of North and South America. He first visited New Zealand in 1841, during the stay of the Antarctic Expedition at the Bay of Islands, and accompanied Sir J. D. Hooker and Mr. Colenso in numerous botanical expeditions. Returning to Australia, he met with Captain Fitzroy, who was then on his way to New Zealand as Governor, and who engaged him as private secretary. Not long after his arrival in the colony he was appointed to the post of Colonial Secretary, which he retained for several years. His leisure time was almost entirely devoted to botanical pursuits, and he collected largely in most parts of the North Island, transmitting copious suites of specimens to Kew, where they constituted a large part of the material used by Hooker in the elaboration of the "Flora Novæ Zealandiæ." After the establishment of parliamentary government in New Zealand Dr. Sinclair vacated his position, and after a brief sojourn in England returned to New Zealand, with the intention of devoting himself to botanical work. After a short stay in Auckland he proceeded to Nelson, where he made important collections, adding many species to the alpine flora. He then repaired to Canterbury, and joined the late Sir Julius Haast in the geological and botanical survey then being made of the Southern Alps. There, in the year 1861, he was unfortunately drowned in an imprudent attempt to ford the Rangitata River. Although he never published anything of importance on New Zealand plants, his name will always be remembered as one of the pioneers of botanical discovery in the colony.

In the years 1847–51, H.M.S. "Acheron," under the command of Captain Stokes, was engaged in the survey of the coast-line of New Zealand, and especially of the western and south-western portions. Captain Stokes was accompanied as surgeon-naturalist by Dr. Lyall, who had served in a similar capacity in H.M.S. "Terror" in the Antarctic Expedition, and who made large collections, especially of Cryptogamia. Milford Sound, Chalky Inlet, Dusky Bay, Preservation Inlet, and both shores of Foveaux Strait were the chief localities botanized in by Lyall during this expedition. Among the plants collected were the first specimens of the magnificent Ranunculus Lyallii.