The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 15, Issue 3 (June 1, 1940)

In New Zealand Waters

In New Zealand Waters.

On the morning of 17th August the vessel slipped slowly between Long Island and Motuara into historic Ship Cove in Marlborough Sounds. The next morning she was moored within 300 yards of the shore by a hawser to a nearby tree, thus occupying nearly the same position as Captain Cook during his three earlier visits to this anchorage. The Maoris who spoke “more or less English,“ were very friendly with advice about moorings and helpful with some fresh food, while the passengers were glad to try their land-legs again. The party stayed here, refitting for nearly a fortnight.

“A basket of potatoes weighing 20 lbs. sold for a pipe, and a blanket which cost eight shillings in London fetched three pigs 80 lbs. each and this was considered a liberal scale of barter on our part.”

On 31st August the expedition left Ship Cove for Te-awa-iti, even then corrupted into the now familiar “Tar-white.” Here the ubiquitous Dicky Barrett came aboard and though the confident visitors were not aware of it (they were reduced to mirth at Dicky's appearance) the new settlement was at last on the road to success.

Three more weeks were spent in the congenial if roystering company of the whalers, and Captain Chaffers charted Tory Channel (and its western extremities) naming it after the ship. Points Dieffenbach and Heaphy; Colonel Wakefield took an expedition up the Pelorus River. At daylight on 20th September the Tory weighed anchor and slipped through the narrow and treacherous entrance, across Cook Strait and under all sail raced along the rugged coast to Port Nicholson heads, where even against a stiff nor'-wester, no difficulty was experienced in beating into the harbour under the instructions of Barrett. Somewhere up the channel probably from Seatoun, two canoes put out and the two principal chiefs of the harbour. Te Puni and Wharepouri, came on board, where they were welcomed by Barrett, who was related to them by marriage.

The Tory stood on up the harbour and finally anchored north of Somes Island (Matiu). The chiefs stayed aboard and even at this early stage excellent progress was made with negotiations for the sale of land. They invited Colonel Wakefield to inspect the land immediately and during the next week the ship and all on board were kept busy. Colonel Wakefield and Edward Jerningham explored the valley, Dieffenbach and Heaphy went on a huia expedition into the Orongorongo Valley, and Captain Chaffers and Te Whare spent five days with one of the boats surveying the entrance of the harbour, of which an excellent chart was made. There were fishing expeditions led by the chief mate, Richard Lowry, to a small bay which thereafter carried the name Lowry Bay.

Amidst this hurly-burly of activity Colonel Wakefield arranged the details of the purchase of the land. On the deck of the Tory on 27th September the goods were displayed and the deeds signed by the chiefs and witnessed by Barrett, Lowry and Nayti. On 30th September, the famous celebration took place on the beach. Thus was the city of Wellington born, and on 4th October the Tory slipped out of the harbour leaving a contented Maori people enjoying the full benefits of the muskets, jews harps, razors, nightcaps and sealing-wax.

The Tory put into Cloudy Bay on 5th October, but Colonel Wakefield decided that it was unsuitable, and left on the 13th for Te-awa-iti.
Facsimile of the first page of Colonel Wakefield's diary, now in the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington.

Facsimile of the first page of Colonel Wakefield's diary, now in the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington.

Barrett was left here and on 16th October, the Tory anchored off Kapiti just too late to see a battle between the Ngatiawa and Ngatiraukawa which had taken place that morning and had finished on the beach in view of the whalers. Eventually, however, the sale of land was arranged, a sale which was later repudiated by Te Rauparaha and a further sale was arranged in East Bay in the Sounds where Barrett rejoined the party.

On 17th November, after many delays, the Tory set off up the coast calling at Wanganui and Sugar-loaf Islands (New ( Continued on page 34 ).