Abstract:
The presentation of this thesis is not the work of one person alone, and so I wish to express my thanks to those who have given help and encouragement to me during my research.
To my supervisor, Professor D.W. McKenzie, of the Department of Geography in the Victoria University of Wellington, must go my special thanks, firstly for selecting this topic from my early ideas and secondly for his suggestions and general assistance.
Valuable advice on map work was given to me by Mr. G. Winchester, Cartographer of the Department of Geography, Victoria University.
Mrs. J. Benefield of the University was responsible for the excellent reproductions of plates and figures from the original maps, diagrams and negatives, while the onerous task of typing the script was in the capable hands of Mrs. W. Sheat.
