the eastwards from the lake country or from the West Coast. It was evident that their journey would necessarily be a protracted one, though it was not expected that it would occupy eighty weeks; and the slight preparation made for the undertaking is not the least remarkable feature of this expedition when it is considered that there was no chance of obtaining fresh supplies, and that the greater part of the country to be traversed was wholly uninhabited.
The total outfit of food and clothing for the whole party of five persons cost only £33 9s. 4d., a small sum considering the magnitude of the undertaking. Of course the journey had to be made on foot, and every member of the party was his (or her) own beast of burden. The actual provisions taken were, 10 lbs. of flour, a few biscuits, and a small quantity of tea, sugar, salt and pepper. The bulk of the load consisted of clothing, two guns and ammunition.
From the explorer’s diary, which was published in 1848, the following story of this outstanding accomplishment in the history of exploration in New Zealand, has been culled: The journey was commenced in easy stages and a man employed to assist in conveying the goods as far as Stratford’s sheep station in the Motueka Valley, which was reached on December 8th. This was at that time the most
