\ 



~^ Stat from 22nd December, 1858, to 8th January, 1859. 



Request preferred by the Colonial Government to have the coal-fields of 

 the Drury District thoroughly examined by the geologists of the No- 

 rara. — Geogi'aphical remarks concerning New Zealand. — Auckland. 

 — The Aborigines or Maori. — A Mass meeting. — Maori legends. — 

 Manners and customs of the Aborigines. — The Meri-Meri. — Most im- 

 portant of the vegetable esculents of the Aborigines before the arrival 

 of the Europeans. — Dr. Thomson's anthropological investigations. — Maori 

 proverbs and poetry. — The present war and its origin. — The Maori king. 

 — Decay of the native population and its supposed causes. — Advantages 

 held out by New Zealand to European emigi'ation. — Excursion to the 

 VVaiatarna valley. — Maori village of Oraki. — Kauri forests in the Manukau 

 range. — Mr. Smith's farm in Titarangi. — St. John's College. — Intellectual 

 activity in Auckland. — New Zealand silk. — Excursion to the coal-fields of 

 the Drury and Hunua Districts. — New Year's Eve at the Antipodes. — Dr. 

 Hochstetter remains in New Zealand. — The Catholic mission in Auckland. 

 — Two Maories take service as seamen on board the Novara. — Departure. 

 — The results of the explorations of the geologist during his stay at the island. 

 — Crossing the meridian of 180" from West to East. — The same day reckoned 

 twice. — The sight of the islands of Tahiti and Eimeo. — Arrival in the harbour 

 of Papeete. 



Great was the interest excited at the Antipodes by the 

 arrival of the Novara, for besides the importance for Eu- 



