Elizabeth Henrietta
On 5 November 1823, Captain Kent departed Sydney on the Elizabeth Henrietta with a view to establishing flax trade with the native inhabitants of Foveaux Strait, at the bottom of New Zealand’s South Island. Kent had visited the region on a three month voyage earlier that same year on Mermaid. Conditions now seemed favourable for trade to be established and on 25 February 1824, Elizabeth Henrietta was anchored in Ruapuke Bay at the island of the same name when she was hit by a gale and driven ashore. Any attempt to refloat the ship on their own would prove futile, so Kent sent his Chief Officer to Sydney on board the sealer Wellington to enlist help.
Soon after the distressing news arrived, HMS Tees was on her way from Sydney to see if the ship could be salvaged. After much effort from all available hands, they had managed to move Elizabeth Henrietta a few yards and were hopeful that their strenuous attempt would be successful. Cruelly, on 10 May, another gale blew in and ended what little hope there was as the vessel was pushed further up the beach. All that could be done now was for Captain Kent and two of his men to wait with the ship while instructions were fetched from Sydney on what should be done. In the end perseverance paid off when John Busby who had some experience in this matter arrived on Mermaid and incredibly with the aid of only six men managed to refloat the ship in less than a month.
Elizabeth Henrietta and Mermaid then set sail in company for the Bay of Islands. Before she sailed away, Elizabeth Henrietta left some of her smaller passengers at the island in the form of mice, the sight of which sent Maori girls fleeing in fear. For many years after, the small rodents were known on the island as Henriettas.
Soon after the distressing news arrived, HMS Tees was on her way from Sydney to see if the ship could be salvaged. After much effort from all available hands, they had managed to move Elizabeth Henrietta a few yards and were hopeful that their strenuous attempt would be successful. Cruelly, on 10 May, another gale blew in and ended what little hope there was as the vessel was pushed further up the beach. All that could be done now was for Captain Kent and two of his men to wait with the ship while instructions were fetched from Sydney on what should be done. In the end perseverance paid off when John Busby who had some experience in this matter arrived on Mermaid and incredibly with the aid of only six men managed to refloat the ship in less than a month.
Elizabeth Henrietta and Mermaid then set sail in company for the Bay of Islands. Before she sailed away, Elizabeth Henrietta left some of her smaller passengers at the island in the form of mice, the sight of which sent Maori girls fleeing in fear. For many years after, the small rodents were known on the island as Henriettas.