LATE ALLAN CUNNl N'CrHAM, ESQ. 297 



afforded a collection of seeds, specimens, and the tuberous roots 

 of twenty-five species of terrestrial Orchidej:, for a shipment to 

 the Royal Gardens. Mr Cunningham was compelled at this 

 period to place himself again under medical control. His state 

 of health on his return from his late tour being considerably 

 disorganized, and he was also suffering from a severe bilious 

 attack; however, by the end of February he was sufficiently 

 recovered to pursue his varied labours with renewed vigour. 

 A change of governors had taken place during his absence. 

 Lieutenant-General Darling had replaced Sir Thomas Bris- 

 bane, and Mr MacLeay had arrived at Sydney, to perform 

 the duties of colonial Secretary. The next six months were 

 employed in visiting the vicinity of Cox's River and the 

 Illawarra district — at both places collections were made for 

 future transmission to England. 



A voyage to New Zealand having been long contemplated by 

 Mr Cunningham, and the necessary arrangements having been 

 made for the employment of his servants and horses during his 

 absence, he embarked on board the Indian whaler for that 

 interesting group of islands on the 28th of August, and land- 

 ed on the 9th of September, at Paihai, the Church Mission- 

 ary station at the Bay of Islands, where he was cordially 

 welcomed, and most hospitably received by Mr Williams the 

 head of the missionary department in New Zealand, to whom 

 he brought letters of introduction from that exemplary cler- 

 gyman, the Rev. Mr Marsden, the worthy founder of the mis- 

 sionary establishments in New Zealand. Mr Cunningham's 

 first excursion was a boat expedition up the Wycaddy river, 

 and of which he says — 



" We pulled about two miles from the entrance, when we 

 reached the Cowa-cowa, a branch of the Wycaddy, proceed- 

 ing from the south, whose banks at a few miles from its 

 confluence are occupied by dense forests, (abounding with the 

 Kai-Katea (Dacrydium excelsiim, Don.,) and other pines of 

 large size) which I should have rejoiced to have visited. How- 

 ever we continued upon the main river another two miles, 

 and then hauling in upon a rocky point on the north shore, 



Vol. IV No. 30. 2 p 



