Brothers
May 15 1815, the schooner Brothers set out from Sydney in company with the brig Trial with a view to establishing a trading settlement in New Zealand where flax, timber, and other natural resources could be prepared for transport to trade on the Sydney market. Arriving at the Bay of Islands on June 13 they stayed for a month before sailing south trading for flax and spars with Maori, where and when they could along the way.
After visiting Cook Strait Brothers and Trial sailed back to a place they had named Trial Harbour during their voyage south. Located between Mercury Bay and Thames, Trial Harbour is known as Kennedy's Bay today. It was here that both ships were attacked by Maori and after a frantic fight for survival the ships were retaken from the native New Zealanders with the loss of several crew from both vessels.
Arriving back at the Bay of Islands to report their ordeal, it came as no great surprise to the Europeans at the settlement, as they had been aware of some unscrupulous dealings by Captain Hovell with the Maori during their earlier visit there. The trading settlement dream failed and back in Sydney only a small amount of flax, mats, and spars were offered for sale at discounted prices.
As primitive as the captains considered the native New Zealanders, they had learnt the harsh lesson first hand that Maori were not to be crossed in trade or treatment, or the consequences for their lives and business prospects would be fatal.
After visiting Cook Strait Brothers and Trial sailed back to a place they had named Trial Harbour during their voyage south. Located between Mercury Bay and Thames, Trial Harbour is known as Kennedy's Bay today. It was here that both ships were attacked by Maori and after a frantic fight for survival the ships were retaken from the native New Zealanders with the loss of several crew from both vessels.
Arriving back at the Bay of Islands to report their ordeal, it came as no great surprise to the Europeans at the settlement, as they had been aware of some unscrupulous dealings by Captain Hovell with the Maori during their earlier visit there. The trading settlement dream failed and back in Sydney only a small amount of flax, mats, and spars were offered for sale at discounted prices.
As primitive as the captains considered the native New Zealanders, they had learnt the harsh lesson first hand that Maori were not to be crossed in trade or treatment, or the consequences for their lives and business prospects would be fatal.
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