Scott left us again at Melbourne and embarked on yet another begging campaign, whilst I took the ship on to Lyttelton, where the “Terra Nova” was dry-docked with a view to stopping the leak in her bows.  The decks, which after her long voyage let water through sadly, were caulked, and barnacles six inches long were taken from her bottom and sides.  Whilst in New Zealand all the stores were landed, sorted out and restowed.  On a piece of waste ground close to the wharves at Lyttelton the huts were erected in skeleton in order to make certain that no hitch would occur when they were put up at our Antarctic base.  Davis, the carpenter, with the seamen told off to assist him, marked each frame and joist, the tongued and grooved boards were roughly cut to measure and tied into bundles ready for sledge transport in case it happened that we could not put the ship close to the winter quarters.  Instruments were adjusted, the ice-house re-insulated and prepared to receive the 150 frozen sheep and ten bullocks which were presented to us by New Zealand farmers.  Stables were erected under the forecastle and on the upper deck of the “Terra Nova,” ready for the reception of our ponies, and a thousand and one alterations and improvements made.  The ship was restowed, and all fancy gear, light sails and personal baggage put ashore.  We took on board 464 tons of coal and embarked the three motor sledges, petrol, and paraffin.

We spent four weeks in Port Lyttelton, four weeks of hard work and perfect happiness.  Our prospects looked very rosy in those days, and as each new member joined the Expedition here he was cordially welcomed into the “Terra Nova” family.

Mr. J. J. Kinsey acted as agent to the Expedition, as he had done for the National Antarctic Expedition of 1901-4, and, indeed, for every Polar enterprise that has used New Zealand for a base.

New Zealanders showed us unbounded hospitality; many of us had visited their shores before and stronger ties than those of friendship bound us to this beautiful country.

When we came to Lyttelton, Meares and Bruce had already arrived with nineteen Siberian and Manchurian ponies and thirty-four sledge dogs, and these were now housed at Quail Island in the harbour.  All the ponies were white, animals of this colour being accepted as harder than others for snow work, and the dogs were as fine a pack as one could select for hard sledging and rough times.  Meares had had adventure in plenty when selecting the dogs and told us modestly enough of his journeys across Russia and Siberia in search of suitable animals.  Scott was lucky to get hold of such an experienced traveller as Meares, and the “Terra Nova” gained by the inclusion of Lady Scott’s brother, Wilfred Bruce, in the Expedition.  Wilfred Bruce was christened “Mumbo,” and, although a little older than the rest of the officers, he willingly took a subordinate place, and Pennell, writing of him after the Expedition was finished, said that he withheld his advice when it was not asked for and gave it soundly when it was.