Thursday, January 9th

Rose at half past four, got away at five and had a pleasant walk into Lyttelton, arriving there at half past eight. Found that they had been building a cook-house and chimney outside the house. Ham had been out the evening before and shot six brace of oyster-catchers, which we cooked with potatoes for dinner—they tasted something like curlew. Mr Petre^* and Judge Chapman came up to see us and got talking for some time. In the afternoon did the business which brought me back, which was only signing my name to a letter sent from the local directors to the manager of the bank at Wellington. At five set off again and reached Riccarton at half past eight. Got a pleasant tea and did not feel the least tired. Slept in our blankets as the night before. Henry and Wortley had been to Christchurch and laid in a supply of flour, tea & sugar, as we resolved to extend our tour. I page 103had brought more tea, some bacon, a pot of chocolate and four farls of oaten bread from Lyttelton. So we were well supplied. The flour was cooked into damper and some salt pork was boiled ready for the morrow. A Maori, rejoicing in the name of Waipapa (pronounced Wipoppo) was to be our guide.