Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/555

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1911]
LYTTELTON HOSPITALITY
371

hours previously, and was preparing to commence whaling round this station.

Lillie was able to make arrangements to stay with them for a month.

On Thursday, the 28th, the Terra Nova weighed and proceeded south, calling at Wangamumu on the way, where Lillie was landed with all his paraphernalia for collecting and preserving specimens.

The ship arrived off Kaikoura at daybreak on the 8th and, being now close to home and with three days' grace, Kaikoura, Oct. 8, 1911. was able to put in two days' sounding on the hundred-fathom line and so to fill up a rather serious blank on the charts. The coast scenery here, on a fine day, is magnificent, as the seaward Kaikoura mountains run close to the coast and there are very many striking snow-capped peaks in the range.

On October 10 the Terra Nova was once more berthed alongside the wharf at Lyttelton. It is only fitting here to acknowledge the real hospitality shown the Expedition by New Zealand. From the Prime Minister downwards all were anxious to help, and the extent of this help received both from individuals and Government departments can only be fully realised by the ship's party, who found all difficulties smoothed away for them as soon as they arose. Dr. John Guthrie, M.D., of Lyttelton, took on the duty of honorary doctor, and Mr. P. Strain, of Christchurch, volunteered as honorary dentist. The services of both gentlemen were frequently and gratefully invoked.

The ship was rather over two months at Lyttelton,