couple of potatoes he gave Lauper. The following day he proceeded up the river, meeting, towards evening, a canoe containing five Maoris coming down stream. The natives were on their way to the Buller, but had no food. They put Lauper across and that night he reached a Maori camp where two men and their wives were residing. They had little food, but gave him a piece of woodhen. He slept that night in the hut, and after giving the Maoris some tobacco, went on his way. Next day he heard someone chopping, and a few minutes later he was in the midst of Howitt’s survey party and once more amongst friends, who attended to his wants, giving him clothing as well as food. Howitt supplied him with a horse and put him across the lake in a canoe. Two days later he joined the men who had been instructed to wait at the Taramakau Saddle by Whitcombe, but so worn and ill was he that they did not recognise him. The return journey to Taylor’s Station was then made, from whence the news of Whitcombe’s death was sent post haste to Christchurch. After resting a day or two Lauper and his companions reached headquarters.
The Canterbury Provincial Government after placing on record their sympathy, and their appreciation of Whitcombe’s services, voted his family the sum of £1,000. To Lauper, his faithful friend, they gave £100, in recognition
