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both in appearance and its manner of burning. I also found the same strata upon the mainland to the north, forming the hills between Southport and Gulehe’s Head, encircling the little Bay called in the chart Price’s Beach, in which vessels can find temporary anchorage during the N.W. winds. Thestrata here are much the same as in Coal Island, excepting that the sandstones pass more frequently into coarse conglomerates. The position of the coal is relatively the same, as it occurs in the upper part of the series associated with grits and indurated clay shales. There, also, only one seam is discovered 6 to 14 inches in thickness, but of inferior quality to that on Coal Island, so it contains a larger proportion of earthy matter and sulphur. At this time we lost the greatest part of several days, as the weather was wet and stormy, with thunderstorms nearly every night. I however dredged the more sheltered parts of the Sound among the islands, but did not find much variety, the channels, which vary from 20 to 40 fathoms in depth, being characterised by extreme poverty of marine life. The most interesting shell obtained was a large Terebratula, which is very similar, if not identical, with the most characteristic and plentiful fossil in the Oamaru limestone. As I was anxious to get round the West Cape, which lies between Chalky Inlet and Dusky Bay, by the first opportunity, I deferred further examination of the coal strata till our return, when we will probably be detained here for some time. There being an easterly breeze on the 14th July, we made an attempt to get round to the north, but the wind failed as we when opposite Gulehe’s Head, so that we had to put into Price’s Beach. There we lay at anchor two days, until we were forced again to take refuge in Cuttle Cove owing to the occurrence of stormy weather from the north-west. On the 18th instant the weather was again promising, so that we started with a light N.E. breeze, which carried us out of the Sound and past Gulehe’s Head, but failed us in trying to beat into Chalky Inlet, when it became calm, but with a heavy sea running from the westward. Owing to the strong outset from Chalky Inlet and the tidal current setting down the coast from the north, we got into rather an awkward position, for, in spite of having the boat towing ahead and also using thesweeps, we began to drift rapidly towards the Balleny Reef, which was breaking with great violence about a mile to our leeward, so that we had to drop a kedge in thirty fathoms water.

Unfortunately dislocated my left shoulder joint. However, with the aid of one of the seamen, who had been treated for a similar mishap himself, I managed to reduce it and have the necessary bandages applied. The wind had hardly strength to carry us up to Chalky Inlet against the strong outsetting current, in consequence doubtless of the late heavy rains, but with the boat ahead towing we got into Northport about two hours after dark. We had not been long at anchor when another violent thunderstorm broke from the N.W., so that we had great reason to be thankful for the temporary south-east breeze which enabled us to escape in time from our perilous position on the weather side of the Balleny reef. The next day was bright and fine, but with no wind. A party sent in search of the Maoris found them encamped in Landing Bay, which is on the south side of the Inlet, close to its entrance. Since they had left us they had killed four seals, and also captured a live kakapo, which they sent to me. It is rather larger than the common kaka from which, however, it greatly differs in every respect, especially in the form of its bill, which is short and thick. It is of a light green colour, with dusky markings; and from having slight whiskers, like those of a cat, and a depressed circle of feathers round the eyes, it somewhat resembles an owl. It seemed very uncomfortable when exposed to daylight, but after dusk it became quite lively, climbing about everywhere, displaying all the forward manners of other parrots. He was very ill-tempered and obstinate when interfered with in any of his foraging expeditions, screaming most discordantly and biting furiously. He was rapidly becoming tame, but a fortnight after this date he was killed by a woodhen, which was foolishly shut up with him in the locker of the boat, where he was domiciled.

Northport is by far the best harbour we have been in up to this time. It is quite land-locked, but opens so immediately from the wide part of the Inlet, that a large vessel could make right into it without difficulty. On the north side it is surrounded by low granite hills; but Great Island, which lies to the south of it, presents a rolling wooded surface elevated only a few hundred feet above the level of the sea. On the 20th it blew freshly from the south-west, and as the Maoris had promised on the previous day that they would lose no opportunity of getting on at once to Milford Sound, we were anxious to take advantage of this wind, which would be favorable for us if once out of the Sound. We accordingly tried to beat down against it, but when opposite Passage Island, the wind shifted, so that we had to anchor in a small bay in its eastern shore in seven fathoms water. Passage Island appears to be formed of granite, which probably, from its being near the junction of the overlying carbonaceous strata, is traversed