Sunday, January 26th

A lovely morning, though very hot. I was agreeably surprised to find our old friends, the mosquitoes, had not appeared during the night, However their neighbours, the blow-flies—a disgusting nuisance—were very troublesome as page 117soon as the sun rose, and were very keen to blow our blankets. Every one in the neighbourhood of a wood at this time of year ties up his bedding in a bag by day to avoid the beasts. Till one o'clock we sat quietly—I reading the Christian Year, which I had taken care to bring with me—and a pleasant Sunday it was there in the green wood. About one we set off to explore the country round the wood. I think we discovered nothing new; but I was confirmed in my opinion of the great excellence of the soil and the superiority of the situation generally. As for going at once to live there, it is almost impracticable, for we could hardly manage to get wood sawn, a house put up and our people and ourselves comfortably settled before winter sets in. Besides that, this fire round the wood has destroyed all the feed, and we would have no winter fodder for cows and horses till next Spring. We came home at six and dined on an Irish stew—most delicious. The tuis and other birds provide a rich treat for those who dwell near New Zealand woods. Torlesse talking a great deal about the new regulations for applications for sections. To bed at half past nine.