Saturday, January 25th

Started at five, the mare had a bad cough and went dull. While on the way to Deans's I thought it would be much better to turn her out there and walk with a native to carry my bag. Accordingly I put blanket and damper into a bag, found Waipapa again, and started after breakfasting with Cass and Mr Theodore Williams at half past nine. I carried only a pannikin and hook pot, so got on fairly, arriving at Kaiapoi by the old route, only stopping for the ferry-boat at the Waimakariri at about one. I there made a cup of tea and rested two hours, talking with the natives, all of whom knew 'Mittaward' again. It was well I found an old kettle there, for I found my hook pot full of holes. At four I left for Rangiora by a different path from last time (through a thicker part of the Tuahiwi wood). I got there by six o'clock. I found Torlesse camped in a tohe-tohe^* lean-to with four men. The face of the country round was quite changed by the devastating effects of a fire which Mr Brown of Double Corner is said to have caused by looking for his telescope in the thick grass. However as I knew how the country looked green I was able, when it was thus burned, to observe it better, which I did to some purpose, for I found a little stream flowing along the wood, through the best land and with the best aspect. Torlesse received me very hospitably and I enjoyed a luxurious dish of tea and cold beef and slept soundly after my walk of nineteen miles.