The Sub-Antarctic Islands Scientific Expedition of 1907 was organised by the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. The main aim of the expedition was to extend the magnetic survey of New Zealand by investigating Campbell Island and the Auckland Islands, but botanical, biological and zoological surveys were also conducted. Preparations The planning committee of the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury approached the various branches of the New Zealand Institute for support and armed with this, approached the New Zealand Minister in Charge of Marine Department, John A. Millar, for possible transport. On being informed that neither of the New Zealand Government steam ships would be available, the committee sent a delegation to the Acting Premier, William Hall-Jones. By 8 June 1907, it was confirmed that under the captaincy of John Bollons would be available to transport the expedition. Personnel A group of 26 participants went on the expedition. The group was split into two main parties—one for Campbell Island and one for the Auckland Islands—with the intention that the groups were to be dropped off to survey while NZGSS Hinemoa conducted its regular round of checking the castaway depots at other subantarctic islands before returning to pick the groups up. Botany survey Leonard Cockayne Bernard Aston John Smaillie Tennant Arthur Dorrien-Smith Robert M. Laing Joseph Crosby-Smith Geology survey Robert Speight Alexander Moncrief Finlayson G. S. Collyns Patrick Marshall Robert Browne Magnetic survey Coleridge Farr Henry Denman Cook Henry Fawsit Skey Edward Kidson C. A'Court Opie Zoology survey William Benham George Hudson Edgar Ravenswood Waite Charles Chilton George Marriner James Boxer Mayne Harry Borrer Kirk Expedition departed from Bluff on 14 November 1907, and the expedition arrived at Port Pegasus on Stewart Island in the early afternoon. Some disembarked for an episode of botanical collecting. The voyage continued at 21:00 that evening with an overnight steam to the Snares Islands, which were reached at 06:00. All of 15 November was spent at The Snares exploring the islands and collecting soil, rock, zoological and botanical specimens. By 16 November, the expedition arrived at Auckland Islands and discovered the castaways of the wreck of the . After ensuring that the castaways were supplied with provisions and taking on board one of the castaways to act as a cook for the Campbell Island expedition group, the Auckland Islands expedition party was dropped off at Camp Cove. Campbell Island was reached on 18 November, and the remainder of