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First Vessel Built In New Zealand South.

Busby, in his '"Original Documents," in the office of the Colonial Secretary, states:—"Two very handsome vessels (one 370 tons the other 140) were built in New Zealand this (1832) year. They were made of New Zealand timber, built by English mechanics, and—he adds—"in all their pursuits the English are largely assisted by the natives." Heaton, in his "Australian Dictionary of Dates, etc." informs us:—"The first vessel built in New Zealand by European whalers was launched at Dusky Bay, Codfish Island. It was 150 tons burden." The date given is 1814. We have here a territorial muddle, sufficient to cast doubt upon the information as a whole. Codfish Island is located on the west coast of Stewart Island, 40 miles, at least, from Dusky. The facts are these:—The Britannia left Sydney Cove for the Cape of Good Hope under charter to the officers of the New South Wales Corps, for cattle. En route, she landed a sealing gang of twelve at Dusky. A year afterwards (July, 1793) the Endeavour reached Dusky, bringing the framework of a schooner named Francis. The Endeavour was in such an unseaworthy state that she was abandoned. That was the origin of the much-talked-of Dusky Sound wreck. Meantime, the sealing gang, assisted by the crew of the Endeavour, fitted up the schooner, and by that means escaped from their isolated position in Dusky. Strictly speaking, this vessel was not built in New Zealand. She was only put together. Instead of 1814, the date given by Heaton, the correct date was 1793, as given by Collins, in his "Narrative of New South Wales." About the date indicated by Busby, Tuhawaiki (Bloody Jack) had a craft answering the description of the 140-ton vessel. It was built at Waikawa by one Peter Grant. Bishop Selwyn sailed in this craft on the occasion of his memorable visit to the south, and he makes special mention of it in his writings. Busby was in Southern New Zealand about this time recovering the wreck of the frigate Elizabeth Henrietta, and the probabilities are he learned all about its construction. That vessel was built wholly of New Zealand timber, and the natives are known to have largely assisted in its construction; Peter Grant himself being, what Busby designates, an English mechanic. In all probability that was the first vessel built in Southern New Zealand.—"Traditions of the District."