 Reports of Brunner 's endeavours on the West Coast soon spread to Wellington and England . He wrote an account of his journey which was first published by Charles Elliott , the editor of the local newspaper the Nelson Examiner , and later , in 1850 , in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society . The Royal Geographical Society also awarded him their Patron 's Medal and appointed him a Fellow of the Society . His exploits were also recognised in France , the Société de géographie ( French Geographic Society ) awarding him a diploma in 1852 . 
