5 April 1872

Next morning we started from Ross to walk 9 miles thro a dense low-lying bush. A new road was being constructed. Here we saw mopes and ferns, the Kidney and Prince of Wales feather in by far the richest profusion. We procured a boat on the lake on whose glass-like surface everything was perfectly reflected; - the dark green foliage of the large trees, and undergrowth, was in splendid contrast to the high snow-peaked mountains behind Hokitika. Mount Cook, nearly 14,000 feet high, was a truly grand sight, - in fact the scene was by far the prettiest and yet the grandest I had yet met with, - and were it not for the quantify of rainfall. I should have felt that the spot would have been a pleasure to own. A little stream from the Lake runs into Hokitika river, and thro’ this we find our way back to Hokitika.