[4] The expedition left Lyttelton on the ship Ngahere[3][6] though Archey and Lindsay went ahead of the main party.

The Chatham sites were at Cape Young, Tioriori, Titirangi and Waikaripi and at Flowerpot Harbour on Pitt.

[5] Howes noted that the flora and fauna were similar to New Zealand and he was disappointed with his findings of moths, beetles and flies.

[7][5] He found prolific bird life including pukeko, ducks, swans and weka at the lagoon and pigeons, tūī, Chatham Island wrens and piwakawaka elsewhere.

[5] It was noted that much work still needed to be done surveying and charting the waters around the islands to assist gathering better information on the habits of marine species.