t and picturesque harbour, I spent some
four days, having ridden from Tauranga through the Kati-kati settlement,
the old Thames Gold Fields, and finishing my most interesting journey in
a little steamer, the _Rotomahana_, sailing from Grahamstown. On arrival
at Wellington I called on Colonel Reader. He expressed much surprise at
seeing me, and told me that as he had no recollection of having received
any application from me for leave, he failed to understand on what
grounds I had come to Wellington. I was, of course, surprised myself that
he had not heard from Major Swinley, and explained to him exactly what
had happened. He appeared considerably annoyed, and told me that Major
Swinley should not have permitted me to leave Tauranga before the
application for leave had been approved by himself; but, as he had done
so, he would not stand in the way of my bettering my position, and would
accept my resignation. I thanked him and returned to the steamer, which
sailed next morning for Christchurch.

In due course I arrived in Dunedin. Here a real surprise awaited me. It
was a cable from Sir Frederick Weld to the effect that he had received
instructions from the Colonial Office to proceed without delay to
Singapore, where he had been appointed Governor, and where his presence
was urgently required. He expressed his regret that the alteration in his
plans forced him to cancel his offer, and hoped that it would not cause
me much inconvenience. There was nothing for it but to bow to the
inevitable, break my journey, and put my thinking-cap on.

I had wired to some of my friends in Dunedin, advising them of the fact
that the steamer would be calling at the port, and that I would be glad
to see them again. Two or three of them were waiting on the pier on the
steamer's arrival. They were much concerned at my bad news, did their
best to cheer me up, and promised me a good time while I stayed with
them. Being young, I put aside my troubles for the time and determined to
take them at their word and enjoy myself. Plenty of time for worry by and
by. At the end of the week the senior officer of the local garrison
battery came to see me. He said his officers had asked him to apply to
the Government to have me appointed as artillery instructor to the
district, which then included the port of Invercargill, otherwise the
Bluff, and that he had that day sent on an application to that effect,
supported by the local Members of Parliament, and ot