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Rh generous lines, he was a natural leader of men. Irish to a degree he possessed an inexhaustible fund of humour, which stood him in good stead in settling many a hectic argument. His brother, John C. Revell, who had been appointed his assistant, accompanied him to the Grey.

On January 4th, 1864, they left Port Cooper for Nelson, per S.S. Nelson, and on their arrival there transhipped to the schooner Mary, reaching their destination on January 24th, after an uneventful run down the coast. John Rochfort and his survey party were passengers by the same vessel. Three days after Revell’s arrival, a party of prospectors from the Taramakau reached the depot. They were in want of provisions, which were supplied, and from a member of this party, named Hughes, Revell purchased 1 oz. 16 dwt. of gold at the rate of £3 10s. per ounce. This by many writers is held to be the first sale in Westland, but is incorrect, Charles Townsend having bought small parcels from other prospectors.

On February 8th, Revell, accompanied by two survey hands, set out for Christchurch, and travelled via the Taramakau, Hohonu and Lake Brunner. The journey occupied fourteen days, the party being detained by a very heavy flood in the lake, which rose six feet, after two days’ solid rain. This was reported by the Maoris to be the heaviest flood ever seen in the Grey, the water completely overflowing its banks,