 In Nelson , many people had thought Brunner dead and he readily recognised that he would not have survived his endeavours without the aid of Kehu , writing : " ... I found my native Ekehu of much use - invaluable indeed , but the other three rather an encumbrance - I could have made better progress without them ; but to Ekehu I owe my life - he is a faithful and attached servant . " As well as further information about the West Coast , Brunner informed the colony that coal was to be found in the Grey River valley . However , he also considered , mistakenly , that " there is nothing on the West Coast worth incurring the expense of exploring . " 
