CHAPTER XVII 
EXPERIENCES OF A BOTANIST IN NEW 
ZEALAND 
By Rosert B. WYLIE 
The sturdy Navua which earried me from Fiji to New Zealand 
was reported to have been the smallest British vessel in transport 
service during the Great War. She was a very easy-riding boat, 
however, and the four-day journey, following the strenuous weeks 
in Suva, was most enjoyable. Life on board was simple and very 
restful in contrast to the formality of the Niagara. The Navua 
was returning from her trip out to Samoa and carried many New 
Zealanders who were making a midwinter excursion to the tropies. 
A number of Seotch from the region of Dunedin were aboard and 
were about the friendliest people I have encountered; their sincere 
‘‘good morning’’ salutations sounded most cheerful to one who had 
been much alone for weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Ashbel Welch, of 
Philadelphia, whom we had met on the trip down to Fiji and who 
had meanwhile journeyed out to Samoa, were already on board 
and had kindly made reservation for me at their table. They 
were experienced travelers and contributed much to the pleasure 
of this voyage. 
It was an interesting experience to ride southward from Fiji, 
each day bringing cooler and cooler weather. The ship’s officers 
and stewards soon changed from white to blue uniforms, and 
towards the end of the journey we encountered cold July winds 
sweeping down from the south. The morning of July 7 found 
the Navua resting at anchor in the beautiful land-locked harbor 
of Auckland. After inspection when we ran in to the pier I was 
pleased to find Professor Nutting on the wharf, and he soon con- 
ducted me to headquarters, the others having reached New Zea- 
land ten days earlier. 
The Iowa party was established near the Auckland Museum 
where ample working space had kindly been assigned to our group. 
The late Professor T. F. Cheeseman, Director of the Museum, and 
his associate, Mr. C. J. Griffin, showed us every courtesy, and 
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