Catherine
One of the first whaling ships to become a regular visitor to New Zealand over an extended period, Catherine first arrived at the Bay of Islands in August 1814. Captain Robert Graham reported having witnessed the eruption of Sunday Island (Raoul) and subsequent emmission of masses of volcanic rock fragments and ash.
The following winter, Catherine spent a month in Sydney before heading back out to the fishery. After a visit to the Bay of Islands in early 1816, Catherine returned to England where after only 24 days she left again for her next South Seas whaling voyage. Under these conditions it is little wonder many men on ships formed a second 'marriage' with south sea islands girls, despite having families in their homeland. Nineteen weeks after leaving Deal, Catherine arrived at the Bay of Islands, but spent only three days at anchor before sailing for the fishery. In March 1817, Captain Graham brought his ship into the Bay of Islands in need of repair, having run aground at Sunday Island. He had come from Curtis Island off the coast of Australia and William Hall from the Christian Mission Station assisted in repairing the ship.
Captains and members of the mission society formed friendships that proved mutually beneficial. Captains were a lifeline to England, while missionaries were able to assist in establishing opportunities for captains to trade for provisions with Maori chiefs. This was certainly the case when William Hall took Captain Graham's mate Philip Tapsell and a boat load of crew from Catherine to Manawaroa to obtain a spar large enough for a mainmast on the ship. Once the spar was felled Hall arranged for local Maori to bring it down to Catherine, and the first mast to be obtained in New Zealand arrived at the Bay of Islands on July 14 1817.
Catherine called at the Bay three more times during 1818 before sailing back to England with her cargo of oil where she remained for only two months. When she returned to New Zealand in November 1819, Captain Robert Graham was still at her wheel, and had with him a quantity of English goods which were received with delight by the mission.
In 1820 Catherine was a frequent visitor to the Bay of Islands and her captain had by now learned the most profitable way of direct trade with Maori was through muskets. In July, Captain Graham was reported to be trading gunpowder for potatoes. A year later Catherine's crew had taken 900 barrels of whale oil and her last noted visit to the Bay of Islands was in January of 1822.
The following winter, Catherine spent a month in Sydney before heading back out to the fishery. After a visit to the Bay of Islands in early 1816, Catherine returned to England where after only 24 days she left again for her next South Seas whaling voyage. Under these conditions it is little wonder many men on ships formed a second 'marriage' with south sea islands girls, despite having families in their homeland. Nineteen weeks after leaving Deal, Catherine arrived at the Bay of Islands, but spent only three days at anchor before sailing for the fishery. In March 1817, Captain Graham brought his ship into the Bay of Islands in need of repair, having run aground at Sunday Island. He had come from Curtis Island off the coast of Australia and William Hall from the Christian Mission Station assisted in repairing the ship.
Captains and members of the mission society formed friendships that proved mutually beneficial. Captains were a lifeline to England, while missionaries were able to assist in establishing opportunities for captains to trade for provisions with Maori chiefs. This was certainly the case when William Hall took Captain Graham's mate Philip Tapsell and a boat load of crew from Catherine to Manawaroa to obtain a spar large enough for a mainmast on the ship. Once the spar was felled Hall arranged for local Maori to bring it down to Catherine, and the first mast to be obtained in New Zealand arrived at the Bay of Islands on July 14 1817.
Catherine called at the Bay three more times during 1818 before sailing back to England with her cargo of oil where she remained for only two months. When she returned to New Zealand in November 1819, Captain Robert Graham was still at her wheel, and had with him a quantity of English goods which were received with delight by the mission.
In 1820 Catherine was a frequent visitor to the Bay of Islands and her captain had by now learned the most profitable way of direct trade with Maori was through muskets. In July, Captain Graham was reported to be trading gunpowder for potatoes. A year later Catherine's crew had taken 900 barrels of whale oil and her last noted visit to the Bay of Islands was in January of 1822.