George Leslie Adkin diary entry Sunday 2 February 1919

Sun. Feb. 2

Up at 7.30. Weather clearing. - North Canterbury coastline plainly visible, + later Banks Pen.[insula] + later still the Plains (or rather the plantations thereon) running out to the Peninsula. As our approach was later in the day than on my last visit, the details of the Peninsula were easier distinguished -

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M[oun]t[ain]s Sinclair + Herbert (crests under cloud), Port Levy, Lyttelton Harbour, Castle Rock Dyke, Mt. Pleasant, Godley H[ea]d., Taylor's Mistake, Sumner + Clifton. Photo. 1/4 pl.(1) General view of entrance to Lyttelton Harbour from the sea, (2) 1/4 pl. The cliff at Godley Head showing the stratification. This stratification shows undulating lava-flows with their red bands ^('burnt soils') in between. Numerous caves + one fine arch occur in the foot of the cliffs. Just here the cliffs of the former cycle of marine erosion, separated from present level of erosion by the 15f[oo]t. uplift, are for the most part undercut + the raised rock platform of the previous cycle destroyed. South-west of Godley Head the lava flows have a more uniform + constant dip, but it is noticeable that the uppermost flows are in this respect more regular than those nearer the present water-line + especially so on the east side of the harbour entrance. I drew a rough sketch of the arrangement of the lava beds from Godley Head to near the town of Lyttelton. (3) 1/4 pl. The crags

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at the head of Lyttelton Harbour (ie edges of the lava flows on the caldera walls) Coopers Knob +c +c form part way done the Harbour. In the immediate vicinity of Ripa Island the lower hill-slopes are loess covered. The cliffs of Quail Isl[an]d on the side facing NW show two massive + horizontal lave-flows near their top. The craggy + scrub-clad slopes of Mt. Pleasant which surmounts the town of Lyttelton are very picturesque. Was introduced by a casual acquaintance on board to a Mr. Hyde, president of the Hawkes Photo Soc.[iety] - an old man of 70. Reached Lyttelton wharves at 10.45 + trained to Christchurch. At Heathcote all the lower hill-slopes are covered with loess which has an abrupt upper limit + which is scored by innumerable irregular but more or less parallel rill channels. These loess slopes are intensely cultivated + bear orchards veg.[etable] gardens +c. Evidence of the former swampy nature of the Plain adjacent to the hills, as at Heathcote, is to be had in the numerous drains which bound the

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fields. Trammed to the Excelsior Hotel + found a room ready for me. Walked around Cathedral Square + as far as the Museum taking photos (4) 1/4 pl. Memorial Statue to Captain Scott. (5) 1/4 pl. Canterbury College. (6) 1/4 pl. Main entrance of same. (7) 1/4 pl Canterbury College + Cathedral in distance from the Museum. Back to hotel for lunch + met a Mr. Moodie, an agricultural instructor in schools + up for the Science Congress. Returned to the Museum in the pm. + went through the numerous rooms - fine collections a+ remarkably well arranged. Walked through the Botanical Gardens - large crowds here also. Took photo 1/4pl. (8) Sunday pm on the banks of the Avon. Sat on river bank for some time watching pedestrians + boats on river. In evening attended a service in the Roman Catholic Cathedral or Basilica in Barbadoes St. A huge + beautiful building. As it happened it was a special service, "lot[sic?] Sunday Procession", held once a month - very formal + impressive. On coming in most members of the congregation

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dipped fingers in water in niche on wall + crossed themselves, + all knelt before entering the pews. On the alte[a]r about 93 candles were burning. Then entered shepherded by nuns in black, groups of girls, the first in red cloaks, then as lot in blue cloaks, then black dresses and red scarves, blue, purple + pink scarves, then little girls in white with chaplets of roses - each of every group wore a white veil. Then by another door entered priests, in robes of varying degrees of elaborateness + boys with robes + red, blue + other coloured scarves, some carrying candles +c. Two little boys carried the train of the most gaudily dressed priest. The service consisted of many evolutions before the alter by priests + chants in Latin, then a mild sermon + more chants in which the congregation occasionally joined + finally the piling of extra robes on the chief priest + a grand procession twice around the cathedral by the priests, boys + girls described above + also a number of men in scarves. Various members of the procession carried candles, banners + crucifixes of

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assorted designs + the chief a large golden star before whom two other priests swing incense contained in vessels of worked metal.