32 
is the great characteristic of such scientific pursuits, as you are engaged in, 
that, though on the one hand they are joined to the deepest and inmost 
principles of nature, on the other they are linked to the daily wants and 
commonest necessities of life. We believe therefore that your visit here 
will not be barren of practical results. We believe, that it will give us 
both a desire to develop, as far as possible, our share of the gifts of nature, 
and a knowledge how we may best do this. 
We know, that we have had no special claims on you for the interest 
you have taken in our welfare. The advantage, which we have derived 
from it are, however, of such a kind, that both those who give and those 
who receive, may be proud of. We have had many opportunities of notic- 
ing how earnestly you pursue knowledge for its own sake, and are glad 
to find that those who do so, are the most ready to employ for the benefit 
of others what they have acquired themselves. You have done this in our 
case with considerable personal exertion and discomfort, which have been 
cheerfully encountered by your diligence and activity. 
We do not wish to do more than allude to considerations of a personal 
kind. But we must express our appreciation of your courteous and kind 
behaviour towards us and assure you that few men could habe been among 
us for so short a time and have acquired so much of the character of a 
personal friend. 
We beg your acceptance of the accompanying Testimonial, the product 
of our Goldfields, and we ask you to apply it to the purchase of a piece of 
plate, which may help to keep us in your remembrance and on which we 
ask you to place the following inscription : 
“Presented to Dr. Ferdinand I loch* tetter , Geologist to the Imperial 
Iloyal Austrian Scientific Expedition in the Frigate “Novara”, by the inhabi- 
tants of the Province of Nelson, New Zealand, as a record of their appre- 
ciation of the great benefits conferred upon them and the Colony by his 
frank communication of the results of his zealous and able researches into 
the geological character and mineral resources of the Province.” 
We earnestly hope, that all good may go with you on your return 
to Europe, and that after a pleasant and speedy voyage you may reach in 
safety your home and friends. And with this wish we bid you heartily 
“Farewell”. 
Signed on behalf of the inhabitants of Nelson. 
J. P. PiOBINSON, 
Superintendent of the Province of Nelson , 
New Zealand. 
