Reference has been made elsewhere to Captain W. Mein-Smith's appointment as Surveyor-General to the New Zealand Company, and the arrival of the survey staff by the “Cuba.”

When the writer was compiling other information (kindly supplied by the senior draughtsman, Mr. R. W. Collins, at the district survey office), his attention was drawn, by Mr. T. G. Gillespie, of the Native branch of the department, to the following letter:—

“Ship Cuba, at sea, Lat. 41 deg, 36 S., Long, 160 deg, 4E., 11th. December, 1839.

Sir,

As we are now approaching the shores of New Zealand. I have to request that you will shape such a course as to fetch Cook Strait if possible, but it should not be possible without much loss of time, it will be necessary at all events that you should take the ship into Kaipara, as either in that harbour, or in Cook Strait. I expect to find the Tory, with Colonel Wakefield, the Company's chief agent, with whom it is very important that I should meet as soon as possible. I remain, sir,

Your most obedient servant,

William Mein-Smith,

Surveyor General. To Captain J. Newcombe,
Ship Cuba.”^*