17 
the first time proved beyond a doubt. Subsequent excursions to- 
wards the Drury and Papakura Districts, as also to the Wairoa- 
River had for their aim the establishing of the extent of the brown 
coal -formation , and in a northern direction I advanced as far as 
the Waitakeri River and the peninsula Wangaparoa. 
The geological map , as far as I had finished it by the end of 
February, comprised the whole environs of Auckland in a circuit 
of about 20 miles. My collections, on the other hand, contained 
quite a number of new fossils , and interesting specimens of rock ; 
my cabinet of botanical and zoological curiosities had also greatly 
accumulated through liberal contributions from all quarters. 
The question now arose, whether I should choose the North or 
the South of the province as the object of my further explorations, 
as my limited stay would not admit of my exploring both. I did 
not hesitate to decide in favour of the South from various reasons. 
The southern portions of the Auckland Province were almost exclu- 
sively inhabited by natives. None but missionaries, a few govern- 
ment-officers and tourists had traversed those remarkable, and as yet 
but little known regions; whereas the North of the island was far 
better known. Numerous European settlers inhabit the coasts of 
the bays of the northern peninsula. From verbal and written reports 
of the colonists I gathered much valuable information concerning 
the nature of that country. Dieffenbach 1 had visited all the important 
parts in the North, and published detailed accounts of them, which 
are very creditable to the writer. The celebrated American geologist 
Dana , in the grand expedition sent by the United States to the Soutli 
Sea, had touched the Bay of Islands, the most important harbour 
of the North, and made a geological exploration of its environs. 2 
Moreover, my friend the Rev. Mr. A. 0. Pure has and Mr. Ch . Heaphy 
had during my stay at Auckland, visited the districts of the North, 
and brought me all sorts of collections and drawings, so that I was 
by no means a stranger to that part. On the other hand, the 
1 Travels in New Zealand by C. Dieffenbach. 2 Vols. London 1843. 
2 United States Explor. Exped. Vol. X. Geology 'by James Dana. 1849. 
Chap. VIII. p. 437. 
llochstetter, New Zealand. 
2 
