The amazing world of James Hector

"James Hector was a phenomenon. As a young man he struck out for the wilds of Canada on a daring surveying expedition that succeeded in its goals but nearly cost him his life. Three years later he sailed to the young colony of New Zealand. His task: to survey a vast area of the South Island, and find gold and other minerals, and a route across the Southern Alps to the remote west coast. ..."--Back cover.