I9I0] A LAST SCENE IN NEW ZEALAND 3 



besides some boxes of sweetbreads and kidneys, into this space. 

 The carcases are stowed in tiers with wooden battens between 

 the tiers — it looks a triumph of orderly stowage, and I have 

 great hope that it will ensure fresh mutton throughout our winter. 



On either side of the main hatch and close up to the ice-house 

 are two out of our three motor sledges; the third rests across 

 the break of the poop in a space formerly occupied by a winch. 



In front of the break of the poop is a stack of petrol cases; 

 a further stack surmounted with bales of fodder stands between 

 the main hatch and the mainmast, and cases of petrol, paraffin, 

 and alcohol, arranged along either gangway. 



We have managed to get 405 tons of coal in bunkers and 

 main hold, 25 tons in a space left in the fore hold, and a little 

 over 30 tons on the upper deck. 



The sacks containing* this last, added to the goods already 

 mentioned, make a really heavy deck cargo, and one is naturally 

 anxious concerning it; but everything that can be done by lashing 

 and securing has been done. 



The appearance of confusion on deck is completed by our 

 thirty-three dogs ^ chained to stanchions and bolts on the ice- 

 house and on the main hatch between the motor sledg'es. 



With all these stores on board the ship still stood two inches 

 above her load mark. The tanks are filled with compressed 

 forage, except one, which contains 12 tons of fresh water, 

 enough, we hope, to take us to the ice. 



Forage. — I originally ordered 30 tons of compressed oaten 

 hay from Melbourne. Oates has gradually persuaded us that 

 this is insufficient, and our pony food weight has gone up to 45 

 tons, besides 3 or 4 tons for immediate use. The extra consists 

 of 5 tons of hay, 5 or 6 tons of oil-cake, 4 or 5 tons of bran, and 

 some crushed oats. We are not taking any corn. 



We have managed to wedge in all the dog biscuits, the total 

 weight being about 5 tons; Meares is reluctant to feed the dogs 

 on seal, but I think we ought to do so during the winter. 



We stayed with the Kinseys at their house ' Te Han ' at 

 Clifton. The house stands at the edge of the cliff, 400 feet above 

 the sea, and looks far over the Christchurch plains and the long 

 northern beach which limits it; close beneath one is the harbour 

 bar and winding estuary of the two small rivers, the Avon and 



