Threatened with Death.

The explorer was told that if he went on he would be shot. He soon found out that Adamson's presence in the party (as guide and chainman) only added fuel to the fire, so he discharged him.

Finding that Kepa was the head of affairs, he decided to go down to the Wanganui district and interview him. This he did, travelling by way of Hales’ Track, and being delayed somewhat by snow, for it was the middle of winter. He found Kepa at Upokongaro. The Wanganui fighting chief at once said: “I will support you, and held you with five hundred men if necessary, for I consider a railway will be for the good of my people.”

Reassured by these friendly words from Kepa, Rochfort returned to the interior, carrying letters from the chief to Pita te Rahui and to some of the principal chiefs of the Manganui-a-te-ao Country, men who were thoroughgoing Hauhaus and opposed to the Pakeha and all his works. After a long discussion at Rangataua, Pita and the others at last allowed the surveyor to go on, and eventually joined him as workers, cutting the line through their district. In the end they became very anxious for the line to proceed.