24 
studying the trachyte-lava of that volcanic cone , the most regular 
of all its kind upon New Zealand. After a stormy passage through 
Cook Strait we landed in Wellington on the 1 st of August, and on 
the 3 d we arrived in Nelson. 
Mount Egmont, the Taranaki Mountain seen North-East from Otamatua. 
The inhabitants of Nelson , who , already at the time of the 
Novara’s stay in Auckland Harbour had tendered such a cordial 
invitation to the members of the expedition , gave me a most hearty 
reception in tlieir city, where I found pleasant and commodious 
quarters already awaiting me in Mr. Luck’s Trafalgar Hotel. 
The Provincial Government , with the amiable and excellent Super- 
intendent , Mr. J. R Robinson 1 at its head , had left nothing undone 
to enable me to make the best of my time in geological explora- 
tions. They placed the steamer “Tasmanian Maid” at my disposal, 
in order that 1 might examine the most important points on the 
shores of Blind Bay and Golden Bay in rapid succession. 
The most beautiful weather fully confirmed the report of the 
far-famed climate of Nelson; and my first excursions opened to me 
so new and important a field of exploration , that 1 gladly decided 
on prolonging my stay, originally intended to last but one month, 
to the end of September. Thus I was enabled to subject the 
gold and coal fields in the vicinity of Nelson, and likewise the 
1 Unfortunately the most respected Superinlendant met with an untimely end 
in 1864. He was drowned on the West coast of the province. 
