8 
Negotiations and Resolution. I little thought, on my first arrival 
in Auckland, that after a fortnight’s stay the Novara would weigh 
anchor, and that 1 should wave from the shore a last farewell to 
my companions, and henceforth continue my travels alone. First 
of all , the duty seems to devolve upon me to relate , how unex- 
spectedly this came to pass. 
My first plans and hopes of being able to travel through the 
interior of the North Island of New Zealand, so remarkable on 
account of its volcanic features, date from the stay of the Novara 
Expedition at the Cape of Good Hope, in November 1857. Sir 
George Grey, then Governor of the Cape Colony , — formerly, 
in the commencement of Ins brillant career, from 1847 to 1853, 
Governor of New Zealand, and 1861 recalled to it — - gave the 
first encouragement. He pictured to the commander of the expe- 
dition, Commodore ran Wullerstorf-Urbair , the grand natural curio- 
sities of that unexplored country, its volcanoes and boiling springs, 
which he himself had seen on various journeys through the in- 
terior, in such lively colours, pointing at the same time to the 
great advantages, that must necessarily result from exploring the 
interior of the North Island, especially to geology and geography: 
— that the Commodore, who never for a moment lost sight of the 
scientific task of the expedition, resolved on remaining, if possible, 
longer in New Zealand, than had been laid down in the original 
plan of travel. Therefore it was at that time already, that I con- 
sulted Sir George Grey on the expediency of my undertaking an 
overland journey from Auckland to Wellington during the stay of 
the Novara in those two ports which she was to visit. Sir Geoi’ge 
Grey also very kindly placed his very select library at my dis- 
posal for my further guidance, and furnished the naturalists of the 
Novara with the kindest letters of recommendation to influential 
men of that country. It is with a sense of heartfelt gratitude I 
remember the cordiality and the friendly encouragements of that 
noble-minded man, who, wherever he was, in Australia, New 
Zealand or the Cape of Good Hope, invariably made use of his 
influential position to the furtherance of science. 
