3-017-280 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

An Exploring Party on the West Coast of New Zealand: crossing the River Teramakau, 1865. Engraving from a sketch by Albert Walker. 'The west coast of the Middle Island of New Zealand, where the most recently discovered gold-fields have attracted within the last twelvemonth a population of ten or twelve thousand persons, was an almost unknown region in the early part of the year 1863. [The illustration] shows the mode in which Messrs. Walker and M'Farlane, with a Maori guide, contrived to wade across the River Teramakau, about half a mile from its mouth, the water being, at low tide, up to a man's breast, but running with such force that no man could stand alone. The advantage of their all holding on by one stick is therefore quite apparent, as any one who might slip would be able to gain support from the others. At high tide the water here was 7 ft. or 8 ft. deep. In other places during their journey more than one of the party had a narrow escape from drowning'. From "Illustrated London News", 1865.