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from the journal of Charles Kobinson, whose instructions were to enter every particular in his 

 diary : — 



Dec. 9th, 1892. Started by the s.s. Mawhera at 11 p.m. for Westport. Arrived there 7 a.m. Friday 

 (Dec. 11th). Went on to Waimangaroa, nine miles along the coast. Tramped along the beach to Makonui 

 arriving at 8 p.m., thus completing twenty-seven miles of the journey. 



Dec. 12th. Went along the coast ten miles ; bad walking over big rocks. Camped about 5 p.m. Too 

 tired to reach Wanganui that night. 



Dec. 13th. Three miles to Wanganui. Reached Karamea River at night. 



Dec. 14th. Crossed to Karamea ; started at noon and travelled nine miles towards the Heaphy. Heard 

 Kiwis crying out from the nine-mile creek where we camped last night. 



Dec. 15th. Hunted Kiwis. Caught Wood-hens (Ocydromus earli). 



Dec. 16th. Started at 5 a.m. Had gone a mile along the coast, when we came to a sandy beach. Here 

 we saw a large bird-track in the soft sand — three front toes and a long one behind — with a stride of from 

 16 to 18 inches. Reached the Heaphy at 6 p.m. Went up river about a mile to get fresh water, and then 

 camped. Plenty of Wood-hens here ; and heard a few Kiwis calling. 



Dec. 17th. Stopped in camp. Cleared overgrown track along sideling. Got two Kaka's eggs from a hole 

 in a tree ; there were three, but one got broken. Having to cut a track with the bill-hook through thick 

 kiekie and kareao, we came upon Wood-hens, of which the dog caught several. 



Dec. 18th. Up at 4 a.m. Travelled five miles up the river-bank in the rain, and pitched another camp. 

 Dog caught several Wood-hens. 



Dec. 19th. Up early, looking for track which leads over the range to Collingwood. Raining in torrents. 

 Returned drenched to camp. 



Dec. 20th. My son got twoRoas (Apteryx haasti), our first specimens, and one egg, under a tussock. 

 Found a large bird (female) with the egg ; the other bird was in a different place — also under a tussock. 

 (These specimens unfortunately got spoilt by the weather after skinning. They were lighter in plumage, and 

 larger in the body than any of those brought home). 



Dec. 21st. Two more Apteryx haasti. Found old survey track, which we followed up the spur of 

 the range. Shifted camp. 



Dec. 22nd. Got two Grey Kiwis (Apteryx oiveni), which we found together in a hole among the roots. 

 The Wood-hens, which were so numerous on the Heaphy flats, are very scarce on the ranges. Met with an 

 enormous rata tree, which measured sixteen feet through ! 



Dec. 23rd. Shifted camp a mile and a half further up the river. Got seven Wood-hens, and three eggs of 

 same. No Kiwis, although the dogs tired themselves out with hunting. 



Dec. 24th. Got two Apteryx haasti, also Wood-hens and their eggs. 



Dec. 25th and 26th. Remained in camp. There was a great flood in the river in consequence of the 

 incessant rain, the water having risen twenty feet above the ordinary level in a few hours. 



Dec. 27th. Severe gale blowing, with heavy showers of rain. Moved camp two miles further up. Got 

 two Roas (Apteryx haasti). Skinned one; the dogs having spoilt the other, we had it stewed for supper. 

 Good eating, and very different to the Grey Kiwi, which has a flavour like tar. 



Dec. 28th. Left camp, and travelled up spur, reaching saddle between Heaphy and Collingwood. Very 

 rough travelling. Camped there. Two Roas. 



Dec. 29th. Saw two men working on track. They said they had heard Kiwis calling, but had never 

 caught or seen any. Weather cleared up, but there were no birds. 



Dec. 30th. Came down from the saddle, and shifted camp two and a half miles lower down. We got 

 three Petrels (Majaqueus parkinsoni), each of them occupying a separate hole among the roots. There was 

 one egg in each nest, and the bird fought hard on being captured. 



Dec. 31st. Left camp and went down the river about four miles. Pitched fresh camp in pouring rain ; 

 provisions getting scarce. 



Jan. 1st, 1893. Still raining. Travelled two miles and pitched camp. No birds, but caught some eels. 



Jan. 2nd. On going down to-day met with accident and slipped into the river with baggage, thus getting 

 some of the specimens damaged. There was an almost impervious tangle to go through — principally kiekie 

 and supple-jack. The slopes are covered with black birch and red birch, with scattered rata trees. There 



