HMS Dromedary
On 9 February 1820 Reverend Samuel Marsden set sail from Sydney for his third visit to the christian Mission station in the Bay of Islands. On this occasion he sailed on HMS Dromedary, Captain Skinner, the first official visit of a Royal Navy ship to New Zealand. The colonial built schooner Prince Regent, Captain J.R.Kent sailed as the ship's tender.
On board HMS Dromedary with Marsden were nine Maori chiefs who had been at Marsden's seminary in Parramata, including a fifteen year old son of Hongi Hika. The naval ship arrived in the Bay of Islands on 27 February and anchored off Paroa. The whale ships Indian, Martha, Catherine, New Zealander, and Echo were all in the Bay at the time and after HMS Dromedary came to a standstill, several boats crew from the whalers rowed over to meet her.
Captain Skinner visited Hokianga during March in search of a good supply of timber and when he arrived back at the Bay of Islands in April he was called upon to make an arrest. Captain Riggs of the American ship General Gates was apprehended for having convicts on board his vessel who were being brutally treated. General Gates left the Bay of Islands for Sydney on April 17, Captain Skinner having put a naval crew in charge of her.
In late May, the daughter of Sargent Brown of HMS Dromedary died and was buried at Oihi cemetery. In June, HMS Dromedary sailed to Whangaroa Harbour, her tender Prince Regent returned to Sydney in September and HMS Dromedary with Samuel Marsden on board sailed on 05 December 1820 having been in New Zealand ten months.
On board HMS Dromedary with Marsden were nine Maori chiefs who had been at Marsden's seminary in Parramata, including a fifteen year old son of Hongi Hika. The naval ship arrived in the Bay of Islands on 27 February and anchored off Paroa. The whale ships Indian, Martha, Catherine, New Zealander, and Echo were all in the Bay at the time and after HMS Dromedary came to a standstill, several boats crew from the whalers rowed over to meet her.
Captain Skinner visited Hokianga during March in search of a good supply of timber and when he arrived back at the Bay of Islands in April he was called upon to make an arrest. Captain Riggs of the American ship General Gates was apprehended for having convicts on board his vessel who were being brutally treated. General Gates left the Bay of Islands for Sydney on April 17, Captain Skinner having put a naval crew in charge of her.
In late May, the daughter of Sargent Brown of HMS Dromedary died and was buried at Oihi cemetery. In June, HMS Dromedary sailed to Whangaroa Harbour, her tender Prince Regent returned to Sydney in September and HMS Dromedary with Samuel Marsden on board sailed on 05 December 1820 having been in New Zealand ten months.