11 March 1872

Next day we climb by the zig-zag road to an elevation of 4000 feet, called Rockersfort pass, and descend to Featherston. The scenery and bush are very beautiful where left in natural luxuriance, but a good deal had been burned and cleared in the formation of the settlement and township. We drove over the Wairarapa Valley to Mr Revan’s Bush, where we saw some of the finest Totara trees. Dr. Hector pointed out many of the curious bushes. page 85 We found that much of the land in this valley is stony but nevertheless keeps on this part one sheep per acre. At the top of the rise it is much exposed and the Coach drawn by 4 horses was overthrown.