A handwritten journal with several sketches and pasted-in newspaper cuttings, providing a detailed account of the principal events during the cruise of HMS Harrier, 28 November 1860 - 17 March 1865, 189 pages. The account includes a detailed description of the main events of the Waikato river campaign of 1863, including the Battle of Rangiriri of 20 November 1863, in which Ayre himself took part. The journal is unsigned, and was evidently written up after the events it describes. The author appears to have made a conscious effort to retain his anonymity.