Day 4: Tuesday, December 26 1933
Up to take a photo of camp at 8am. A northerly breeze was springing up but the weather, in the meantime was beautiful and clear. A great sight presented itself as sun swiftly climbed over the tops. Two inquisitive keas flew round camp and then gave us quite an entertainment by perching near us and emitting raucous cries. To encourage them we blew weird calls on whistle, mouth-organ and out of our throats. Deer were still about at north end of flat. At 8:30am we had breakfast of rice, maggoty bacon and good old tea. My leg was still sore and this combined with the raw blister on my left heel made walking for the first few hours at any rate very difficult.
We finally quitted the flat at 10am and followed down the swampy north portion of it into and along the stream which drains that section. We saw 2 deer about 400 yards away up small stream to left. We were in water all the way down to the Casey Stream which flows east, and where we arrived at 11:30. Followed down Casey Stream, scrambling over rocks and wading through water to reach easer going. We had to take to bush once or twice to avoid dangerous bluffs and deep pools. At one part we had a rocky climb over a bluff that must have recently slipped into the stream. We particularly noted that the water was clear, as Mr Townsend had mentioned that he found it milky. When through the gorge, which was not as difficult as it may sound, we pushed on for another hour or so and then stopped for lunch on an open patch of shingle. Lunch:- 1cup Oxo,, bread and butter, pancakes, pineapple and tea. Snapped crowd and changed film.
The time would be about 1:30pm and the sky had become gray with rain and mist threatened from the northwest. Later on, patches of blue sky were visible, but late in the afternoon all became lowering with mist on the tops. We got away at 3 o'clock and found it was easier going, striking very soon the open bed of the stream. We cam upon grassy, sheltered spots, ideal places for a sit camp and made down these and the shingly bed to the junction of the Casey and Poulter Rivers. Across on the other side we saw wild cattle, which, further up the stream, we had taken for deer. Nearby was a white bull, the sight of which, so we were told at the Mt White station caused a deerstalker further along the Poulter to name Cox's Stream, Bull Creek. Huia had crept near to get a photo of the "dears" and finding cattle, he waited on us and we met up with him to down packs and rest on the grass.
We decided to find a camping site as the rain was starting and so with this in mind we continues about ¼ mile along the right bank of the Poulter to find a well-sheltered spot with plenty of our pals, blow & sand flies, plenty of wood and near the river's edge which shelved steeply to the water 15ft or so below. Huia & Bob cooked the evening meal while the rest erected the tents in the pouring rain.
We had tea of stew, plum pudding and cocoa and retired to our tents about 8pm, after digging trenches around them and glimpsing weather conditions.
Mileage 8, Time 4 hours
Further extract from Mr Townsend's Report.
Cross flat, about 3 miles, & and follow stream at other en of flat.
Will be in water until Casey Stream is reached. Follow this. In
about 3 hours reach Poulter. Casey is difficult in flood. Must take
to bush often to avoid bluffs.