RATION a: 
CHAPTER I. 
Nine Months in New Zealand. 
The arrival. — Departure of the Novara from Sydney. — On the coast of New Zealand. — 
Great Barrier Island. — Hauraki Gulf, — Off Auckland. — First impression. — Reality 
versus imagination. — Friendly reception of the Novara Expedition in Auckland. 
Negotiations and resolution. — Plans for exploring New Zealand. — First impetus by Sir 
George Grey. — Further encouragements from Sir William Denison and Colonel Gore Brown. 
— Official negotiations. — Agreement. — Departure of the Novara, — Separation. 
Sojourn. — Contemplations. — Residence in Auckland. — Aid and furtherance from 
Government and friends. — Geological map of the Auckland district. — Journey to the 
Southern parts of the province of Auckland. — Preparations and equipment for the same. 
— Sketch of the journey. — Results. — Excursion to the Coromandel Harbour. — Lecture 
on the geology of the Province of Auckland. — Departure from Auckland. — Journey to 
Nelson. — Cordial reception. — Gold-fields. — Copper and coal. — Moa-skeletons. — The 
Southern Alps. — Lecture on the geology of the Province of Nelson. — Departure from 
Nelson and New Zealand. — Appendix. 
The Arrival. On the 7 th of December 1858, after a stay of 
four weeks on tire coast of Australia, the Novara set sail from Port 
Jackson, the harbour of Sydney. The frigate, which on the long 
voyage from China to Australia, had suffered great damage from a 
hurricane in the Chinese sea, and subsequently from stormy weather 
in the neighbourhood of New Caledonia, had undergone a thorough 
repair in the famous docks of Sydney, and was from masthead to 
keel as good as new; and the wind and waves, as though they had 
conspired to test at once the workmanship of carpenters, caulkers, 
and sail-makers, began to use us very roughly as soon as we had 
passed the “Sydney- Heads” at 9 o’clock a. m., and were steering 
our course towards New Zealand. 
I] o o It s l e 1 1 e r ? New Zealand. 
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