in making bread and several
batches were very "heavy" failures. This difficulty, however, was soon
overcome and, after the first few months, the cooking standard was high
and well maintained. Our stove was very small and only two loaves of
bread could be cooked at once. It frequently happened, therefore, that
the others, which would go on rising in the tins, overflowed; a matter
which could only be set right by experience.

On New Year's Day, 1912, we carried timber in relays from the wreck to
the top of Wireless Hill, so that the building of the engine-hut could
be started. The next few days were occupied in getting food-stuffs,
medicines, stationery, clothing and other necessaries over to the Shack
from the landing-place on the beach. Blake and Hamilton unpacked
their instruments and appliances, fitting up a small laboratory and
photographic dark-room in one corner of the hut.

Some kind Hobart friend had sent four fowls to me on the day of sailing,
requesting me to take them to Macquarie island. They were housed in one
of the meteorological screens, but on the third day from Hobart a heavy
sea broke on board, upset the temporary fowl-house and crushed the
rooster's head. The three hens were landed safely and appeared to be
thoroughly reconciled to their strange surroundings, though the presence
of so many large birds soaring about overhead had a terrifying effect on
them for several days. They did not appear to pick up much food amongst
the grass, but scratched away industriously all the same. I must say
that they were very friendly and gave the place quite a homely aspect.
One of them was christened "Ma" on account of her maternal and somewhat
fussy disposition.

On the first Sunday in the new year all except myself went along
the coast towards West Point. The party reported immense numbers of
sea-elephants, especially young ones. They also saw many wekas and three
ducks, shooting nine of the former for the kitchen.

The wekas or Maori hens are small, flightless birds, averaging when
full grown about two and three-quarter pounds. They were introduced
twenty-five years ago by Mr. Elder, of New Zealand, a former lessee of
the island, and multiplied so fast that they are now very numerous. They
live among the tussocks, and subsist for the most part upon the larvae
of the kelp-fly, small fish and other marine life which they catch under
the stones along the rocky shores at low tide. They are exceedingly
inquisitive