Departure from Nelson. 193 



Haast, succeeded in ascending in 1860 — 61, after indescrib- 

 able difficulties and hardships, which redounded to the credit 

 of German 'pluck' and perseverance, as the results did 

 honour to German science. 



'' My time had now been stretched to its utmost limit, 

 and I had to prepare for ray return to Europe. In a lecture 

 upon the geology of the province, which I delivered at Nelson 

 on 29th September, I presented in a succinct form the results 

 of my observations. An extract from this lecture, accom- 

 panied by a copy of my geological map, I presented to the 

 Provincial Government of Nelson and the Colonial Govern- 

 ment of Auckland. 



''I cannot conclude without recording the numerous in- 

 stances of consideration and unexpected kindness which I 

 received at the hands of the inhabitants of Nelson, and 

 especially for their flattering and gratifying appreciation of 

 my labours, which at the close of the lecture already men- 

 tioned took the form of an address,* accompanied by an 

 elegant and appropriate souvenir, consisting of a beautifully- 

 finished cabinet, composed of the various coloured woods of 

 New Zealand. 



" On 2nd October, 1859, I embarked for Sydney, on board 

 the steamer Prince Alfred. After a short sojourn in the 

 capital of New South Wales, I went on to Melbourne, whence 

 1 visited the most important of the gold-fields of the colony 



* See Appendix, 

 VOL. in. o 



