Haweis
In late 1818, Captain John Nicholas brought the newly built brig Haweis into the Bay of Islands from Tahiti. In March of 1820, the captain and his ship were back at the Bay again, having examined the south east coast on her way from Sydney. After just five days in the Bay, Haweis left for Tahiti. It was not until March 1828 that Haweis, now under Captain James, reappeared at the Bay of Islands. This time she came from Sydney, but was still being used as a trading vessel. From the Bay of Islands, John James sailed Haweis along the south coast.
In November 1828, Haweis departed Sydney for Antipodes and Bounty Islands, where a sealing gang was left. Gangs were often stationed on remote islands to cull as many seals as they could before the ships returned. Sealing was dangerous enough, but added to it was the very distinct possibility that their ship might never return. Sealers were crushed to death by seals, attacked, killed, and eaten by Maori, and abandoned to starve by captains that couldn’t, or didn’t, return. After Haweis left her gang in the southern islands, she continued her voyage trading around New Zealand and called at the Bay of Islands in December to refresh. While at the Bay of Islands an interpreter was enlisted to assist in trading with Maori. They then sailed for the East Cape.
In March 1829, Haweis was attacked and looted at Whakatane, in the Bay of Plenty, with three crewmen killed. The ship was retaken a couple of days later by Captain Clarke of New Zealander, and Haweis arrived back at the Bay of Islands after her harrowing ordeal on 15 March. Haweis sealing gang must have been more fortunate than others, as when the brig arrived back in Sydney in April, seal skins were among her cargo. This success saw Haweis sail to the sealing grounds in the south again the following month and when she arrived back in Sydney on June 29 from Stewart Island, her crew had taken another 340 seal skins.
Haweis next voyage was an eight day return trip from Sydney to Newcastle, still under Captain John James. On 24 October 1829, James left Sydney on Haweis, bound for the Society Islands. By the following January, grave fears were held for the ship's safety.
In November 1828, Haweis departed Sydney for Antipodes and Bounty Islands, where a sealing gang was left. Gangs were often stationed on remote islands to cull as many seals as they could before the ships returned. Sealing was dangerous enough, but added to it was the very distinct possibility that their ship might never return. Sealers were crushed to death by seals, attacked, killed, and eaten by Maori, and abandoned to starve by captains that couldn’t, or didn’t, return. After Haweis left her gang in the southern islands, she continued her voyage trading around New Zealand and called at the Bay of Islands in December to refresh. While at the Bay of Islands an interpreter was enlisted to assist in trading with Maori. They then sailed for the East Cape.
In March 1829, Haweis was attacked and looted at Whakatane, in the Bay of Plenty, with three crewmen killed. The ship was retaken a couple of days later by Captain Clarke of New Zealander, and Haweis arrived back at the Bay of Islands after her harrowing ordeal on 15 March. Haweis sealing gang must have been more fortunate than others, as when the brig arrived back in Sydney in April, seal skins were among her cargo. This success saw Haweis sail to the sealing grounds in the south again the following month and when she arrived back in Sydney on June 29 from Stewart Island, her crew had taken another 340 seal skins.
Haweis next voyage was an eight day return trip from Sydney to Newcastle, still under Captain John James. On 24 October 1829, James left Sydney on Haweis, bound for the Society Islands. By the following January, grave fears were held for the ship's safety.