27 January 1866, the date of the novel's main events

27 January 1866, the date of the novel's main events, is a precise narrative time marker: the story resumes in Hokitika on Saturday, five minutes before one in the afternoon, at the moment Thomas Balfour’s preceding scene leaves off.

A Precisely Marked Return

The date and time are specified together: Saturday, 27 January, at five minutes before one. Rather than advancing to a later episode, the narration returns to the exact moment at which Thomas Balfour’s scene ended, making the transition between scenes a continuation in time.

Time and Narrative Structure

The return is framed as a resumption in harmony with the turning spheres of time. That language links the exact clock time to the novel’s larger astrological imagery, while the concrete setting in Hokitika keeps the transition anchored in the unfolding action. The date thus serves both as a chronological reference and as a point of alignment between successive narrative perspectives.