After we left Van Diemen’s Land, we had very uncertain weather, with rain and very heavy gusts of wind. On the 24th, we were surprised with a very severe squall, that reduced us from top-gallant sails to reefed courses, in the space of an hour. The sea rising equally quick, we shipped many waves, one of which stove the large cutter, and drove the small one from her lashing into the waist; and with much difficulty we saved her from being washed over-board. This gale lasted twelve hours, after which we had more moderate weather, intermixed with calms. We frequently hoisted out the boats to try the currents, and in general found a small drift to the W. S. W. We shot many birds; and had upon the whole good weather; but as we got near to the land, it came on thick and dirty for several days, till we made the coast of New Zealand in 40° 30ʹ S. having made twenty-four degrees of longitude, from Adventure Bay, after a passage of fifteen days. We had the winds much southerly in this passage, and I was under some apprehensions of not being able to fetch the Straits, which would have obliged us to steer away for George’s Island; I would therefore advise any who sail to this part, to keep to the southward; particularly in the fall of the year, when the S. and S. E. winds prevail. The land, when we first made it, appeared high, and formed a confused jumble of hills and mountains. We steered along shore to the northward, but were much retarded in our course by reason of the swell from the N. E. At noon on the 3d of April, Cape Farewell, which is the south point of the entrance of the west side of the Straits, bore E. by N. 1/2 N. by the compass, three or four leagues distant. About eight o’clock we entered the Straits, and steered N. E. till midnight; then brought to till day-light, and had soundings from forty-five to fifty-eight fathoms, sand and broken shells. At day-light, made sail and steered S. E. by E.; had light airs; Mount Egmont N. N. E. eleven or twelve leagues, and Point Stephens S. E. 1/2 E. seven leagues. At noon, Mount Egmont N. by E. twelve leagues; Stephens’ Island S. E. five leagues. In the afternoon we put the dredge over-board in sixty-five fathoms; but caught nothing except a few small scallops, two or three oysters, and broken shells.