10 
TlFSCT’TPTTVF mKEATIVE OF JOTJBTFEY. 
Bailer by moonlight, and succeeded in reaching our camp about 
ten o’clock. 
The next day Mr. Burnett ascended the mountain for our 
blankets, during which time I occupied myself with sketches, and 
in completing my geological notes. Another day was devoted to 
ascend the Eotoroa river, which flows rapidly towards its 
junction with the Roto-iti. It was now that I expected the return 
of my party sent for provisions, but they did not make their 
appearance. On the following day, therefore, I occupied myself 
in washing for gold, and was not a little gratified at finding that 
both the Eotoroa and Boto-iti were gold-bearing rivers. In order 
not to lose further time, we again started, on the 11th of February, 
swagging part of the provisions, &c., down the Buller, and camped 
six miles lower down on the flat. Mr. Burnett returned next day 
to fetch the remainder of our loads, during which time I examined 
more closely the adjacent country. In the evening he came back, 
bringing with him two of the men whom I had sent for provisions, 
and who had had to go to Nelson. The other tw T o had preferred 
remaining in Nelson, as one of them did not feel strong enough, 
and the other was afraid to cross the rivers, so that F. Beckman, 
whom I had entrusted with this mission, had been obliged to 
engage two others in their place. The next day, the 13th, my men 
started back to get a quantity of provisions which they had left at 
the junction, and Mr. Burnett and I crossed the Buller near our 
camp (where it is divided into three streams, offering an easy ford), 
for the purpose of examining the Eiver Owen, whose junction with 
the Buller was two miles below us. ¥e went three miles up the 
Owen, which is a very pretty river, and I found, as I had 
previously observed from the top of the mountain, that there was 
a good deal ot level land on both its banks, consisting of bush 
and small grassy patches. 
On the 15th of February, everything being arranged for our 
start towards the Grey, we left our camping ground very earlv • 
but, having more to carry than we could manage in one trip we 
advanced six miles and my party then returned and brought 
up what had been left behind. Mr. Mackay had selected another 
road, for the purpose of avoiding the rocky cliffs near the river 
and which, though much better, contained some steep hills which 
we had of course to ascend. Finding that it would be move con 
vement, and would save the necessity of passing three times over 
the same ground, we determined to carry everything at once in¬ 
stead of dividing the loads; we therefore re-distributed ’ the 
dungs, and found that though each individual’s load was between 
progreL and ^ 7 P * “ We COuld thus ™ke better 
o n ter„rr d ri “ d Xt “ifr? r 
camped. Beneath u» (lowed the Buller, between it 
