Wednesday, January 8th

Making preparations for a start for the Plains, all morning unpacking knapsacks and laying out provisions. At four o'clock we started in the following order—Henry and I and page 102Willy McCormick, Wortley & Turnbull. I carried a light knapsack with two pair of drawers, extra woollen socks and a bag of tea and sugar, a belt round my waist and strung upon it a tin mug, a small tea kettle & a small gridiron. Henry carried a tin in his belt and a tin wallet holding powder and shot, tobacco and cigars and some oaten bread. Wortley carried a waterproof pouch by way of blanket, strapped knapsack fashion, and a belt and tin. Willy had three blankets on his back and carried a gun. Turnbull had Wortley's knapsack filled with divers things. We took the cool of the evening and arrived at the Surveyor's house at Riccarton at about eight o'clock. I had to call at Christchurch to send Mr Phillips in to Lyttelton on bank business, which required either him or me to be there tomorrow. To my vexation he could not come, so I was obliged to stop my journey and go back. We all slept in the Surveyor's house on our blankets and quite free from mosquitoes.