TIPPAHEE AND HIS FOUR SONS ARE CONVEYED TO NEW ZEALAND IN THE LADY NELSON.

The following months were months well spent by England’s little ship; months which, like many others, left their mark on the early history of Australia and New Zealand, when seed was sown in England’s name that was afterwards to bear fruit and extend her power and prosperity.

Empire builders to-day may well envy those whose lot it was to be the first in that vast southern field.

They were a gallant little band who, in early days, carried the mother-flag from New South Wales to lands and islands yet more distant, discovering the shores, planting the first settlements and moulding them into shape men who worked with such untiring energy that succeeding generations found a city, where lately had stood a few miserable huts, and a flourishing seaport surrounding a once silent cove.

Looking back across one hundred and twenty years of time, we can picture the empty spaces on the sea-shore, which are now towns, and the monotonous wildernesses of bushland, which have been replaced by smiling landscapes; and we can realise the enormous difficulties that had to be overcome before houses could be built, or the bushland cleared and cultivated.

One of the first letters [perhaps the very first from a woman’s pen to be handed down to us] written from Sydney, in November 1788, thus describes the Mother-settlement at the beginning.

“We have now two streets, if four rows of the most miserable huts you can possibly conceive deserve that name. Windows they have none as from the Governor’s house [now nearly finished] no glass could be spared, so that lattices of twigs are made by our people to supply their places. At the extremity of the lines where since our arrival the dead are buried there is a place called the churchyard... and then, telling of the only food obtainable there, in addition to the hard fare provided by the Government, the writer continues, Our kangaroo cats are like mutton but much leaner and there is a kind of chickweed so much in taste like spinach that no difference can be discerned. Something like ground ivy is used for tea but a scarcity of salt and sugar makes our best meals insipid...Everyone is so taken up with their own misfortunes that they have no pity to bestow on others." What was written of Sydney may be said to have been true of all the settlements. Everywhere hardships were encountered, and everywhere they were surmounted.

The Lady Nelson’s log will show how in 1806 she paid a second and perhaps a more important visit to New Zealand. Her commander was instructed by Governor King to convey Tippahee, a New Zealand Chief of the Bay of Islands on the north-east coast, back from Sydney to his own dominions. At some time previously a son of this Chief had been brought to Port Jackson in a whaling vessel. The Governor had shown him kindness and had ordered some pigs to be sent from Norfolk Island to New Zealand for his father, and Tippahee, on receiving the present, had himself resolved to pay a visit to Governor King. He embarked with his four sons in a small colonial whaling vessel bound for Norfolk Island. The voyage was hardly a success, for on his arrival there he complained to the authorities that the master of the ship had treated them badly and had detained his youngest son. Captain Piper, the Commandant, gave them a very kind reception, and it is said rescued the youngest son from the master of the whaler. Shortly afterwards, H.M.S. Buffalo called at Norfolk Island, when Tippahee, with his sons, was received on board by Captain Houston, and after the Buffalo had visited Tasmania, the New Zealanders were brought to Sydney, where, dressed in the costume of a Chief of his country, Tippahee did homage to Governor King. We are told that this meant laying a mat at Governor King’s feet and performing the ceremony of “joining noses.” The Governor seems to have developed a great admiration for Tippahee. He allowed the Maori Chief to remain, along with his eldest son, as a guest at Government House, and provided his other sons with suitable lodgings. The Chief is described as being 5 feet 11 1/2 inches high, stout and athletic looking, and about forty-six years of age. His face was completely tattooed. Among other things, King writes of him that he was “a constant attendant at Divine Service,” and he adds, “he had a contempt of the Australian aborigine.”

The Reverend Samuel Marsden, then chaplain in Sydney, became intimately acquainted with Tippahee, and he, too, states that he found him “a man of very superior understanding and capable of receiving any instruction. His companions also manifested strong mental faculties.” When the Maoris had remained in the colony as long as they wished by that time becoming familiar figures to all the citizens of Sydney the Governor gave instructions for the Lady Nelson to be fitted up to convey them back to their own country. Before their departure they were loaded with presents by the Governor and other friends, the gifts being carefully packed in chests and put on board the brig. On this voyage Governor King also ordered some bricks and the framework of a house for New Zealand to be received as part of the cargo.

On February 25th, Tippahee and his sons bade farewell to New South Wales and their numerous friends there, and on their going on board, the Lady Nelson immediately set sail for the Bay of Islands.

During the voyage the Chief was taken ill and Mr. Symons ordered a young man named George Bruce to nurse him. So well did Bruce carry out his duties, that Tippahee afterwards requested that he might be allowed to remain in New Zealand.

The Chief’s illness may have been an attack of sea-sickness, due to the roughness of the passage, as the log records that the weather was very squally.

On March 2nd the Lady Nelson made a great deal of water and had to be pumped out. The vessel still remained in a leaky state, and this drawback, in conjunction with the cross currents and heavy gales that she encountered, greatly retarded her progress.

A succession of gales followed, consequently the land of New Zealand was not sighted until March 30th, when at noon it was observed for the first time, trending from east-south-east to north-east.

At eight o’clock in the evening a prominent cape was seen eight miles distant, which Symons records was North-West Cape [or Cape Maria Van Diemen]. At eleven the ship hauled round to the eastward and hove to. Native fires were seen burning on land. Next morning at six o’clock the Lady Nelson made sail and stood in shore, and as she made her appearance she was met by two native canoes, but perceiving that the coast was very rocky and a gale arising the commander stood to the westward, Tunitico then being east-south-east half a mile. At five o’clock in the afternoon he again endeavoured to anchor, and the Lady Nelson was brought to in a bay “in 15 fathoms of water, sand and shells.” Five canoes came alongside, and as the Maoris appeared very friendly a boat-load of wood and of water was obtained.

Working his way round the coast, which he says he could not “fetch,” on April 3rd Lieutenant Symons made all sail for a bay to the south-east, and in the evening the ship came to anchorage, being then eleven leagues from North Cape. Of this place her Commander writes, “There are three islands laying to the south-east by north; one to the north which will break off all sail from this point of the compass. One of these islands is very thinly inhabited.” The boat was lowered to sound between the island and the main, as a reef was perceived running out astern, and the soundings gave ten to five fathoms. At ten o’clock on April 4th the Lady Nelson again weighed and made sail to work to windward, and at eleven came to in eight fathoms of water the bottom being “fine sand and shells.”

At four o’clock two canoes containing only three men came alongside the ship, and early on the following morning three New Zealand Chiefs from the Island of Titteranee, friends of Tippahee, came to welcome their countryman on his return.

On the Island of Titteranee the natives were very friendly. One of their number, who had spent some time at Norfolk Island, came on board, and the Chiefs supplied the ship with a quantity of fish, for which Lieutenant Symons gave them bread in exchange. During the vessel’s stay, the Chiefs of Titteranee were not only constant visitors, but some appear to have remained altogether in the ship. Possibly the Commander saw a little too much of Tippahee and his friends, as while the boats were on shore cutting brooms and obtaining water, the former was exceedingly troublesome on board two or three times causing a disturbance by lifting up weapons and threatening the seamen at their work. At noon on the 12th of April, Mr. Symons records that he became very mutinous. An Otaheitan in the ship informed the Commander that he had asked one of the Chiefs to go on shore and bring his men to attack the vessel. Tippahee’s residence was at the Bay of Islands, and it seems fortunate that Lieutenant Symons was able to land him safely among his own people, for according to the Sydney Gazette he wielded great power and was acknowledged to be a great Chief by the New Zealanders “from the North Cape to his own dwelling place.”

On April 20th, before reaching the Bay of Islands, the Commander of the Lady Nelson went to examine a deep bay to the south-west, which he explored. He found at the bottom of this bay a river which “ran south-south-east and north-north-west about three miles and one from the west-south-west to west-north-west...after the first Reach the River runs flat and 3 or 4 leagues. On the larboard shore of the river it is not safe for any vessel, drawing more than 12 feet, to attempt entering.” He also mentions a lagoon which ran at the back of the beach to the eastward of the River and a deep bay; these were about one mile apart.

In returning from this little expedition of exploration which was a very early one the boat was upset and two muskets, three powder horns, and two pistols were lost. Symons had already lost the stock of the small bower anchor, the deep-sea lead, and the seine among the rocks. On April 22nd the ship took her departure from this harbour, leaving behind her here a seaman named Joseph Druce who deserted and could not be found.

On the evening of the same day Cavill’s or Cavalli Island was sighted, and a native fire could be seen burning there. At noon the latitude observed was 34 degrees 43 minutes 57 seconds south. Next morning, while working off and on the shore, Cape Brett, some fourteen miles distant to the eastward, and at noon Point Pocock [of Captain Cook] which lay to the south-east came into view.

On Friday the 25th April the Lady Nelson, escorted by three canoes bore up between two islands in the Bay of Islands and came to under the Island of Matuapo in two fathoms. Tippahees home was situated on the north side of the Bay of Islands, just within Point Pocock, and is described as a considerable Hippah strongly fortified. The district extending to the northward was called Whypopoo, but Tippahee claimed the whole country across the island from Muri Whenua. At the same time he admitted that his two great rivals were Mowpah, who was Chief of the territory in the neighbourhood of the River Thames, and Moodee, Chief of the territory to the northward.

Lieutenant Symons lost no time in sending the presents given to the Maoris at Sydney on shore, and at daylight on the day after his arrival he also landed the bricks and the framework of the wooden house. The house, by Governor Kings orders, was to be erected in the most suitable spot possible, and was intended for the use of any officials who might be sent from Sydney, or for any missionaries whom the Governor might permit to dwell there. The carpenter was sent on shore to carry out the Governors instructions, and he built the house on an island in the Bay of Islands on a site selected by Mr. Symons, who afterwards stated that the island was a very small one, but he believed that the house would be impregnable, and able to withstand the attacks of any force that the country at that time could bring against it.

The Lady Nelson waited for five days in the Bay of Islands, until the carpenter had completed his work, and during that time Tippahee, who seems to have overcome his fit of temper, brought on board many presents for his friends in Sydney, sending one to each person individually; these were for the most part weapons of war, which, observes the Sydney Gazette, must have somewhat diminished his native armoury. A sample of New Zealand flax [Phormium tenax] was also brought back from Tippahee’s dominions. The flax was used by the Maoris not only in weaving mats and kirtles, but also for making fishing lines. The lines, although they were twisted entirely by hand, resembled the finest cord of European manufacture, The most useful presents, however, sent on board by Tippahee were some fine ships’ spars, which New Zealand produced in great abundance, and also a quantity of seed potatoes, then very scarce in Sydney, and consequently greatly appreciated.

Leaving New Zealand, and after passing Three Kings’ Islands, Lieutenant Symons steered to Norfolk Island, where he embarked some men of the New South Wales Corps under Ensign Lawson for Sydney. During the long voyage of four months, the brig sustained no material damage, though she met with continuous bad weather, “thus preserving her character,” says the Sydney Gazette, “as being a vessel of the greatest capability, considering her small dimensions.”

This log throws fresh light on the character of Tippahee, who had been overwhelmed with kindness at Sydney and on board the Lady Nelson. Notwithstanding this, Symons seems to have very narrowly escaped being attacked by the Maoris. In 1809, when almost every person on the Boyd was murdered at Wangaroa, Captain Thompson was almost universally blamed for being too hasty with Tippahee. He had previously resented some slight theft, and on the old chief’s coming to pay his respects, had told him “not to bother him as he was too busy.” Possibly Captain Thompson’s critics judged him too harshly, for had he been as watchful of Tippahee as Mr. Symons apparently was, the massacre of the Boyd might not have occurred.

From Sydney to New Zealand.

Laying at Port Jackson.

James Symons, Commander.

“Sunday, 19th Januar. P.M. At 1 fired a salute in honour of the Queen’s birthday.

“Tuesday, 21st January. Received a boatload of bricks for New Zealand and stowed them away.

“Wednesday, 22nd January. Received boatload of bricks for New Zealand, sent for a boatload of firewood.

“Thursday, 23rd January. Strong breezes and cloudy with a great smoke in the woods.

“Friday, 24th January. Received on board part of a house for New Zealand.

“Saturday, 25th January. P.M. Received the remainder of the house.

“Monday, 27th January. A.M. Received 2 chests on board for Tippahee going to New Zealand.

“Monday, 10th February. Sailed the Estramina, Spanish schooner, for Port Dalrymple.

“Wednesday, 12th February. Arrived ship Sophia and a boat from Tellicherry, a ship on the coast which was short of water.

“Thursday, 13th February. Made the signal for sailing, arrived the Tellicherry from England.

“Friday, 14th February. Came into the Cove the Sophia and Tellicherry.

“Saturday, 15th February. Fired a gun and made signal for sailing.

“Sunday, 16th February. Received from Tellicherry on account of Government, 3600 pounds bread.

“Sunday, 23rd February. Arrived the Star Whaler from England in 18 weeks.

“Tuesday, 25th February. Weighed and made sail down the Harbour came on board Tippahee and his 4 sons for their passage to New Zealand.

“Wednesday, 26th February. P.M. Port Jackson at 4 north-west 6 miles: at 7 North Head bearing south-west by south about 12 miles.

“Saturday, 1st March. P.M. Fresh breezes. At 12 strong gales: found the current had set the vessel to southwards: the rate of 10 miles per day.

“Sunday, 2nd March. P.M. Strong gales heavy sea: found the vessel had made a great deal of water, pumped her out: found the vessel’s deck leak very much.

“Monday, 17th March. Heavy sea still running: found the current had set to windward about 40 mile degrees 35 seconds south.

“Friday, 21st March. Noon, moderate breezes, the current set to the northward, 3/4 mile per hou degrees 11 minutes 30 seconds south.

“Saturday, 22nd March. At 9 A.M. capsized boat, got the main keel up, carpenter repairing i degrees 40 minutes 48 seconds south.

“Sunday, 30th March. North Cape distant 47 miles.

“Monday, 31st March. P.M. Strong breezes and squally, bore up and ran alongshore, slit the main top-gallant sail, employed getting the stirrup down and another up, at 8 North-West Cape or Cape Maria van Dieman north-west by north 8 miles at 10 wore and stood to the Westward Tunitico on east-south-east about 1/2 mile. Two canoes alongside.

“Tuesday, 1st April. P.M. Made and shortened sail at 5 found the wind hang to south-east. At 10 found the vessel driving, wore away 2 thirds of the cable. At noon tide flows northward and alongshore about 5 feet, 5 canoes came alongside, the natives appear very friendly.

“Wednesday, 2nd April. P.M. Strong gales. At 4 came to in 20 fathoms of water, fine brown sand, the bottom appears in general very good and clear of rocks. Any ship or vessel may lay here with the wind from south-west to south-east in safety.

“Thursday, 3rd April. P.M. Tacked to work round the North Cape, at 8 North Cape south 2 miles. At noon about 15 miles.

“Friday, 4th April. P.M. At 4 fresh breezes and squally. At 6 shortened sail and came to at all leagues from the North Cape. There are three islands laying to the south-east by north one to the north which will break off all sail from this point of the compass. One of the islands is very thinly inhabited. At 10 weighed and made sail, to work to windward, at 11 came to in 8 fathoms of water fine sand and shells.

“Saturday, 5th April. P.M. At 4 came alongside 2 canoes with only 3 men. Lost the stock of the small bower anchor, unstocked the kedge and stocked the small bower, at 8 A.M. came alongside 3 chiefs from the Island of Titteranee, friends of Tippahee. Latitude of anchorage 34 degrees 47 minutes 20 seconds south.

“Sunday, 6th April. On the Island of Titteranee found the natives very friendly, the native Tookee that went to Norfolk Island came on board, the chiefs supplied the ship with fish, gave them bread in lieu.

“Monday, 7th April. P.M. Employed watering vessel, people on shore cutting brooms.

“Tuesday, 8th April. P.M. Several canoes alongside. Three chiefs on board. Boat returned having lost the seine among the rocks.

“Wednesday, 9th April. A.M. Sent people on shore to cut firewood.

“Thursday, 10th April. Moderate and cloudy. Painting ship.

“Friday, 11th April. Strong gales with rain. The 3 chiefs still on board.

“Saturday, 12th April. A.M. Tippahee 2 or 3 times attempted to raise a disturbance in the vessel, lifted up weapons against some of the men whilst putting their orders into force. At noon Tippahee became very mutinous. I have understood from an Otaheitan on board he told one of the chiefs to go on shore and bring his men to attack the vessel.

“Sunday, 13th April. P.M. Ditto weather with a heavy sea in the offing, the wind has not changed more than 2 points these six days, sent the boat for greens for the Brig’s company.

“Monday, 14th April. P.M. Strong gales with heavy rain. Painted ship, sent boat for greens.

“Tuesday, 15th April. At 8 A.M. sent for water.

“Wednesday, 16th April. Received boatload of water, people cutting wood on shore.

“Thursday, 17th April. At 4 sent boat for greens.

“Friday, 18th April. Sent boat for cask of water. A.M. Sent boat for greens, 2 chiefs on board.

“Saturday, 19th April. P.M. Sent boat for water. Strong breezes and squally.

“Sunday, 20th April. P.M. Went with the boat to examine a deep bay to the south-west. Found at the bottom of the bay a river to run south-south-east and north-north-west about 3 miles, and one from the west-south-west to west-north-west there is about 4 fathoms water, it is not safe for any vessel drawing more than 12 feet to attempt entering, the tide runs out at 2 knots and flows about 8 or 10 feet. There is a shoal running off towards the starboard shore about west from the leeward shore, half-way up the bottom is a fine sand. There is a lagoon runs all along the deep bay aback of the beach; to the eastward of the River there is a deep bay runs in, about one mile apart. In returning on board the boat upset and lost overboard 2 musquets, 3 powder horns and 2 pistols.

“Monday, 21st April. Lost overboard 2 woodaxes.

“Tuesday, 22nd April. A.M. Weighed and made sail out of bay. Run from the ship Joseph Druce.

“Wednesday, 23rd April. P.M. Strong breezes with heavy swell at 6 Cavill’s Island about 6 leagues at 12 tacked ship, saw a fire on shore, at 8 Cavill’s Island about 10 miles. Noon. Latitude observed 34 degrees 43 minutes 57 seconds.

Thursday, 24th April. Standing off and on working in shore, Point Pocock east-south-east Cape Brett east 14 miles. At 6 Cavill’s Island south-south-east about 8 miles, at 12 fresh breezes and squally, at 4 ditto weather, tacked Cavill’s Island south-west about 6 miles, at 8 tacked moderate, squally. At noon Point Pocock south-east Cape Brett about 14 miles. Latitude observed 35 degrees 3 minutes south.

“Friday, 25th April. P.M. Moderate breezes and cloudy. Point Pocock about 6 miles, Cape Brett east by south 18 miles. At 8, 3 canoes alongside. At noon bore up between 2 islands and came to under the island Matuapo in 2 fathoms water.

“Saturday, 26th April. P.M. Light winds and variable. A.M. At daylight got the house on deck and sent on shore the carpenter to build. Sent on shore all the tools and articles belonging to Tippahee.

“Monday, 28th April. A.M. Got on board 7 spars from the chief.

“Tuesday, 29th April. P.M. Strong breezes and squally weather. Stowed and lashed the spars. Carpenter about the house.

“Wednesday, 30th April. P.M. People stowing away wood. At noon hauled the boat on shore to repair carpenter about the house.

“Thursday, 1st May. P.M. Small rain. Stowing away fire-wood, launched the boat. A.M. At 6 towed out in the stream, at 8 came to, Cape Brett east-north-east 8 miles. At noon sent back on shore for potatoes.

“Friday, 2nd May. At 6 made sail to work out of Cove, finding we could not weather the Cape Brett, bore up to come to an anchor, bore up for a bay to leeward.

“Saturday, 3rd May. P.M. Sounded in 24 fathoms sandy bottom, the soundings run from 24 to 13 fathoms, very regular until you shut the Southern Island and Point Pocock in, then shells from 10 to 5 fathoms sand bottom.

“Sunday, 4th May. Several canoes alongside. Sailmaker making canvas buckets.

“Tuesday, 6th May. At 8 A. canoes alongside: at 11 strong breezes from westward, in boat.

“Wednesday, 7th May. P.M. At 2 A.M. made sail out of the bay: at 5 Point Pocock south-south-west 1 1/2 miles: at 8 Cavill’s Island west-north-west 8 miles. At noon 7 canoes alongside.

“Thursday, 8th May. At 10 light breezes from the southward: weighed and made sail between Cavill’s Island and the main, current not less than 5 fathoms mid-channel: at 6 ten canoes alongside. Wongoroa Island bearing south-south-west about 12 miles, Cavill Island south-east 4 miles.

“Friday, 9th May. P.M. Several canoes alongside. At 4 Wongaroa Island south-east about 3 miles: at 5 light breezes, made all sail along the coast, at 6 Cavill Island east by south. Wongaroa south-east by south. Knuckle Point west 5 leagues, A.M. Knuckle Point south 3 miles: set up. At noon North-West Cape about 6 miles: 5 canoes alongside.

“Saturday, 10th May. At 2 bore up and made sail for Norfolk Island.

“Friday, 16th May. Light breezes and variable, thunder and lightning. Found the current setting to north-east about 10 miles. By double altitude latitude 29 degrees 30 minutes 32 seconds. Latitude by observation 29 degrees 23 minutes 57 seconds.

“Monday, 19th May. Fresh breezes, wind and rain at 4 Norfolk Island west-north-west and Phillip Island west 4 miles at 5 bore up for Sydney. At 6 fired a gun and made signal for a pilot, at 7 a boat came off from the shore and received a pilot.

“Wednesday, 21st May. Calm and dark cloudy weather with heavy showers of rain at times. At daylight saw a strange sail to south-east. At 7 joined company and proved to be the Ocean Whaler, from New Zealand.

“Thursday, 22nd May. Strong breezes and cloudy. Working between the islands. Noon, received no boat these 24 hours, landing being so bad.

“Friday, 23rd May. At daylight bore up for Sydney finding they would not send off a boat from Cascade, at 6 working in for Sydney.

“Saturday, 24th May. P.M. Working in for Sydney. Received from Ocean Whaler 4 gallons of oil for use of vessel, at midnight stood in for bay, the flagstaff north-east by north. At noon received 2 boatloads of sundries.

Norfolk Island to Sydney.

“Monday, 26th May. Received on board Ensign Lawson New South Wales Corps with 6 privates and their baggage for a passage to Port Jackson, discharged the pilot, at 7 weighed and made all sail for Port Jackson.

“Thursday, 5th June. Heavy sea from north-east. At 1 wind shifted to the south-east. Wore ship, Ball’s Pyramid, at 6 distant off shore 10 miles, at 11 found main keel gone.

“Monday, 9th June. P.M. Fresh breezes, quarter past 3, Point Stephens bearing west-north-west about 12 miles. At noon fresh breezes and squally weather, Collier’s Point north-west 1/2 west about 7 leagues, found the current setting to the northward about 18 hours this day.

“Tuesday, 10th June. At sunset Cape Three points south-west 1/2 west, Bird Island S. by S. about 5 miles.

“Friday, 13th June. Light breezes and cloudy. At 8 saw the light on the south head of Port Jackson, came on board pilot and took charge of the vessel, at 9 came to finding the tide done. At noon Bradley’s Head 2 miles.

“Saturday, 14th June. Half-past 1 weighed and made sail up the harbour, at half-past 3 came to in Sydney Cove.

“Sunday, 20th July. A.M. Received orders to take the crew of H.M. brig Lady Nelson on board the Estramina, colonial schooner, to fit her out. Sent the schooner anchor and a cable per order. At noon sent the officers and men on board to assist they are to be considered as lent for H.M. Service.

[Signed]

[Facsimile signature James Symons.]

Commander.

Lieutenant Symons’ logbook closes with the entry dated July 20th, 1806, and is the last log of the Lady Nelson preserved at the Public Record Office. It is quite possible that others are in existence, either in England, or in Sydney, although the present writer has not been able to discover them.

It must not be supposed that the useful work performed by the little vessel ended at this date, as for years she continued to sail into and out of Port Jackson. For a short time Lieutenant Symons and her crew were turned over to the Estramina, the Spanish prize appropriated by Governor King, and used in the colonial service until 1817, when she was lost while coming out of the Hunter River with a cargo of coal.

But in November 1806 we again find the Lady Nelson carrying stores to Newcastle, and on her return voyage she brought Lieutenant Putland, R.N. [Governor Bligh’s son-in-law], with other passengers, back from the Settlement.

Shortly afterwards Mr. Symons joined H.M.S. Porpoise as Lieutenant, being appointed Commander of that ship in 1807, and the Lady Nelson was then placed in charge of Lieutenant William George Carlile Kent, who subsequently superseded Symons as Commander of the Porpoise by the orders of Governor Bligh.

In 1807 and 1808 the little ship’s Commanders appear to have often changed, and her fortunes, like those of her officers, experienced a wave of uncertainty during the stormy period which marked the rule of Governor Bligh. Eventually by his orders the Lady Nelson was dismantled. It is well-known that Governor Bligh was deposed and kept a prisoner in his own house for twelve months by the officers of the New South Wales Corps. During this time the colony was governed by three officers, Johnston, Foveaux, and Paterson.

On the arrival of Major-General Macquarie from England to take over the reins of Government, he caused inquiries to be made concerning the use of the brig, to which Colonel Foveaux replied on January 10th, 1810, “I have the honour to inform your Excellency that the Lady Nelson brig was sent from England seven or eight years since by the Admiralty as an armed tender to the ship of war on this station. On the departure of H.M.S. Porpoise in March last, Commodore Bligh ordered her to be dismantled and laid up in ordinary in the King’s Yard. The Commodore gave her in charge of Mr. Thomas Moore, the master builder, with directions to hand her over to Colonel Paterson should he require her for the service of the colony. Colonel Paterson applied for her immediately after the Porpoise sailed hence, manned her with hired seamen, and she has since continued in the employment of the Government for the use of these settlements.”

From this time forward we hear of Governor Macquarie frequently taking excursions in the Lady Nelson, and in October 1811, he, with Mrs. Macquarie, proceeded in her to Van Diemen’s Land, where he made an extensive tour of inspection of the settlements, and every Governor in turn seems to have used the brig for work of this character.

It is not easy to trace, subsequently, the doings of the Lady Nelson, and presumably for a year or two she lay dismantled in Sydney Harbour, and during that period is described as “nothing more or less than a Coal Hulk.”

By the Governor’s orders, however, in 1819, when Captain Phillip King left Sydney in the Mermaid to explore Torres Strait and the north coast of Australia, the Lady Nelson was again made smart and trim and accompanied the Mermaid as far as Port Macquarie. Lieutenant Oxley, R.N., sailed in the Lady Nelson, and after making a survey of the shores of the port he returned in her to Port Jackson.

Until she set forth on her last voyage, the Lady Nelson continued to ply between the settlements, carrying stores to them from the capital, and bringing the settlers’ grain and other produce to Sydney for sale, and as the expansion of the colony proceeded, her sphere of usefulness naturally became greatly enlarged.