Port Molyneux : the story of Maori and pakeha in South Otago : a centennial history : commemorating the landing of George Willsher and his companions at Willsher Bay, June 28, 1840 : with a programme for the unveiling of the centennial cairn, erected by the Clutha County Council, June 28, 1940
Landing was June 28, 1840
Landing was June 28, 1840.
In order to gain some information about the “Portenia” I wrote to Mr Taylor, the New Zealand Commissioner in Sydney, as follows:—
“I wonder if you could help me in determining the date of departure of a vessel from Sydney in 1840?
“In 1840 a party of four landed at the mouth of the Clutha River and established a settlement. We propose to set up a memorial cairn for our Centennial, and I would like to get the details about the vessel if there are any records in Sydney. The vessel's name was ‘Portenia.’
“If you could get access to old shipping records you might be able to find particulars of her sailing date and her cargo. A letter, written by T. W. Bessant, and dated Molyneux Bay, Monday, July 6th, 1840, commences: ‘Here we are and have been since Sunday week, after a passage of four weeks exactly (from Sydney)…’ The party apparently landed on Sunday, June 28th, 1840. A four weeks' voyage would mean that they left Sydney somewhere about June 1st.
“If there is any means of searching departures of ships from Sydney for the last week of May, 1840, it is possible that the departure of the vessel ‘Portenia,’ Captain Morris in command, might be definitely traced.”