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of the 2nd. 67 Before their departure on the Arawata on 18 May, 68 Reuleaux and Seelhorst had
visited Rotomahana, Te Wairoa, Taupo, Ohinemutu, Tauranga and Auckland, but were unable to
visit the South Island as hoped due to time constraints. 69 It was not until 1884 and 1885, however,
that Reuleaux’s popular and somewhat philosophical account of his short visit appeared in
Westermanns Illustrirte Deutsche Monatshefte unter the title “Ein Ausflug nach Neuseeland”.
The first thing that strikes Reuleaux on reaching the outskirts of Russell is the appearance
of an uninhabited and somewhat lonely, albeit beautiful, wilderness: “[D]och lastete wie ein
Druck darauf die Einsamkeit, denn weit und breit war kein Haus, kein Gehöft, kein Weg zu
erblicken.” 70 When approaching Auckland, however, he finds the countryside “schon fast besät
von freundlichen Landhäusern inmitten von Gärten und parkartigen Anlagen”, 71 while the city
wears the “Stempel der Neuheit” and offers clean and friendly accommodation. 72 While in
Auckland, the opportunity arises to meet several German-speaking immigrants and visitors,
including Siegfried Kohn, the Berlin-trained jeweller, diamond cutter, gold and silversmith,
practical working optician, award-winning exhibitor and Government supplier of passes, medals
and watches, 73 who “mir von einem früheren kurzen Besuch her bekannt war und der es an
Gastfreundlichkeit gegen deutsche Landsleute gern allen zuvorthun möchte”. 74 This is then
followed by Gustav von der Heyde, the German Consul, politician, businessman and chairman of
the ‘German Club’, 75 who invites them on a trip to Mt Eden, 76 and Georg Zürn, whom they meet
in the same club:
Er hatte sich aus dem sächsischen Militärdienst berurlauben lassen, um, dem Reisetrieb
gehorchend, die Südseeländer kennen zu lernen. Seine lebendigen Schilderungen und
ethnographischen Urteile fesselten uns bis zu später Stunde. Es ist bekannt, daß der kräftige,
67
Reuleaux refers to the ship as the Rotomahana and gives the incorrect departure date of 26 June (Reuleaux,
“Ausflug nach Neuseeland”, 130-39). However, the local newspapers show that the ship was in fact the Ringarooma
and that they arrived in May (NZH, 4 May (1881): 4; The Auckland Evening Star [=AES] 3 May (1881): 2; AES 4
May (1881): 2).
68
NZH, 19 May (1881): 4.
69
Reuleaux wrote a telegram to Haast stating that it was impossible for him to visit the South Island and ultimately
meet him in Christchurch, as he was leaving for Sydney later that night (Franz Reuleaux, “Telegram to Haast, 18
May 1881”, in: Haast Family Papers, Correspondence, MS-Papers-0037-130, ATL).
70
Reuleaux, “Ausflug nach Neuseeland”, 135.
71
Ibid., 139.
72
Ibid., 270f.
73
“Kohn, Siegfried”, in: CNZ 1, 759.
74
Reuleaux, “Ausflug nach Neuseeland”, 270.
75
See James N. Bade, “Gustav von der Heyde”, in: Welt für sich, 242-251; James N. Bade, “Gustav von der Heyde:
Director of Henderson and Macfarlane and M. P. for Waitemata”, in: West Auckland Remembers. Vol. 2. Ed. James
N. Bade. Auckland: West Auckland Historical Society, 1992, 77-89.
76
Reuleaux, “Ausflug nach Neuseeland”, 271.
304