Cook

The next European visitor to arrive was Captain James Cook. In March 1770, having completed for the time being his work in New Zealand, and wishing to prepare "Endeavour" for the return to England, Cook anchored in a bay on the east coast of the Island. Inpage 15teresting details of this short stay are learned from "An Endeavour Log". It is not known for certain who wrote this, but the contents indicate that it was an officer on board this ship.

The entry for March 27th, 1770, gives the compass readings of the two headlands at the entrance to the bay chosen by the captain for his anchorage. The extreme points of the cove were half a mile from the beach, and away to the north-east were "remarkable peaked rocks in the offing". These rocks would be the Jags, a fearsome line of stony teeth rising steeply out of the water, fortunately well out of the direct shipping route. This day the men spent at work in the hold, taking empty water casks ashore, and hauling the seine. This last operation was apparently not as successful as it might have been, as the writer gives much more enthusiastic reports of line fishing on subsequent days.

On the 28th the weather was hazy, with the fine, warm, drizzling rain that comes sometimes in autumn. The crew cut wood, and filled water casks, and a boat, "fishing with hooks and lines, caught enough for all hands". Fine blue cod, no doubt, and a few groper. They had fish every day that week.

On the thirtieth the Captain went off in the pinnace to examine the country to the south-east. It is a mystery how he came to miss the waterway Te Aumiti, but no mention is made of it. He named the wide stretch of water "Admiralty Bay", after his employers, and "the round, high islet" became Stephen's Island, after a Secretary to the Admiralty.

No Maoris were seen at this time, though the remains of a village were examined, and it was believed that it had been abandoned about a year before.

By the thirty-first the weather was fair, with moderate breezes. The men finished loading, and the ship was cleared for sea. A pleasant time was had by all during those few days, and at the end of them "Endeavour" was ready to begin her voyage home.

From the details given in this log—the compass readings, the distance from the headlands to beach, the position of "The Jags", the abundance of water and wood, easily obtained, and signs of Maori settlement, it appears that Captain Cook had cast anchor in the Cove known as Whareatea Bay. It is now mentioned in "The New Zealand Pilot" as a ship's anchorage, and coaling boats, riding empty and high out of the water on their way to the West Coast, still use it as shelter if caught by an unfavourable wind.