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They were Maori fortresses; are now parkland & sheep grazing land. Studded w beautiful trees. Long-leaved pines, aurocaria, palmetto-type trees & many others. It was a lovely time of day. Light clear & slanting in across the fields & bays. We drove to the very top of the mt. where there is a memorial to a Maori cheften, who gave (?) the site to a Brit. general. Took numerous pictures. Grand view of the city & environs. Back to airport ~ 7:45. She charged $10.00 a piece. (I couldn't persuade David to let me pay). I hope all went well w her & the taxi company.

In the airport we sat & wasted time. Dave made allusion to wanting to get out of N.Z. I asked why he left McM so suddenly (this gives grace her

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chance to winter-over)? He was given 18 hours to clear out. Mailed most of his stuff home 1st class -- for >$300, carried  case of cameras & lenses "worth $10,000" (?). "Why were you thrown out? I wasn't thrown out. I said I wanted to leave." Dave has spent sev. seasons at Palmer Station & intends to go back there; not to McMurdo. 

It developed, however, that he wanted me to fill out his exit card, except for the signature. He escaped arrest, he said, yesterday by having someone else's handwriting on some paper. I did it and we decided to go to our gate early. We sailed through the exit check point & Dave was much relieved. That would have been it -- he said. I never asked again but I suppose he was a subject in the drug smuggling scandal to Antarctica. I don't think he carried my bags strictly for that reason, but it  

Transcription Notes:
aurocaria misspelling of araucaria