20 February 1872

Lake Tarawaira is next morning white with foam, and we must stay longer. We again examine our provisions, and eke them out as mush as possible with the horrible food the Maoris like, - and with potatoes. It is hard to kill time to-day in the rain, and no chance of leaving the Whare, A Captain Turner, Road Engineer, arrived who helped somewhat to relieve the tedium of the day-