“turn a howling wilderness into a busy haunt of men”—for there, gold—gold beyond the dreams of avarice, awaited the taking.
Prior to undertaking the expedition just described, Brunner and Heaphy, accompanied by William Fox (afterwards Sir William, Premier of New Zealand, but at that time Agent for the New Zealand Land Company at Nelson), set out to “ascertain the nature and extent of the tract of country lying on the banks of the river flowing from Lakes Roto-iti and Rotoroa to the West Coast, and to learn whether a practicable route existed across that part of the Island.” After reaching the head waters of the river in question, which we now know as the Buller, the party obtained much useful data at great personal risk. On one occasion Sir William Fox, when crossing the river, almost lost his life, being washed off his feet. He was burdened with a very heavy swag and reached the shore with the greatest difficulty. The party, after suffering many hardships, were forced to return to Nelson.
On December 3rd, 1846, Brunner again started on his travels, unaccompanied this time by any European, but with a party of four Maoris, two men named Ekehu and Epiki, and their wives. His object was to explore the Buller River to the sea from where he had turned back with Messrs. Heaphy and Fox the previous February, and to seek an opening to
