Shipbuilders In Rodney County – D M DARROCH

SHIPBUILDERS IN RODNEY COUNTY

– D M DARROCH

Foreword

In the preparation of this pamphlet I have confined myself principally to the shipbuilders of Mahurangi and other places in Rodney County, and the vessels they built, excluding mention of any vessels launched – or builders – in Auckland. Also, there was a great number of builders all along the East Coast – from Tauranga to the North Cape – a few of whom may be named just to show the great extent of shipbuilding carried outside the Waitemata. Thus – James Barber of Northern Wairoa – Lane & Brown of Whangaroa – the Gillies in Coromandel – MacGuiness of Mangawhai – and McGregor of Waipu.

In compiling this brief record I have to acknowledge and express my thanks for the assistance given by the Marine Department, and my friends who kindly permitted me to peruse their old documents and papers. Especially, I have to thank Mr Moore, the Librarian at Warkworth, for his help. He has a wonderful collection of old papers and lots of information about the early days of Warkworth and the surrounding districts.

I am well aware that errors or omissions may be found in the names of vessels, their builders or the dates of construction.

I am entirely responsible for any errors or omissions there may be, but I have been very careful about not recording anything which I cannot substantiate.

David McKay Darroch

44 Waterview Road

Devonport

 

CHANGING CLASSES of VESSELS

 

My main objective in writing this narrative is to give the list of vessels built in Mahurangi.

Since the early days of settlement in New Zealand there have been great changes in the class of vessels built in the country.

The first settlements had no roads to speak of – just Maori tracks which usually led one over high ranges. Consequently most of the settlers built there homes close to the rivers or on islands easily reached by small coastal vessels. As the settlements grew larger so did the vessels.

The usefulness of the small cutters – up to 40 tons – started to diminish when the steamers began running – that would be about 1864. I might state that up to that time cutters and small schooners carried all the passenger traffic and the settlers – especially their womenfolk, had to put up with a great deal of hardship. These sailing ships sometimes took 3 – 4 days to reach Whangarei.

In 1865, the building of the small cutters and schooners had nearly ended. The towns and cities all around New Zealand, but especially those of the South Island, began to grow very fast creating a demand for a larger vessel.

The vessels built to meet these increasing requirements of a growing population were of a splendid class – top sail schooners and brigantines which carried 100 ton’s or more. They ran to the Pacific Islands carrying passengers and general cargo and returned with fruit. There was also a big trade from the southern to the northern ports in grain, potatoes and general cargo.

Until about 1860, many of this class were built but it is astonishing how abruptly the building of this round-bottomed sailing class stopped. It was about this time that the steamers were taking the place of the large square- rigged vessels trading from England.

In the year 1870 I can remember seeing seven or eight old whalers anchored together at the Bay of Islands. Very soon after that date these vessels stopped sailing in New Zealand waters.

No record of shipping would be complete without mention of the old men-of-war. What great strides have been made since those old days!!

In 1864 they were all barque-rigged with steam power as auxiliary. I remember when firing at the white cliff of Stanley Bay in cannon practice – the holes made by the shot can be seen there yet.

There was another class of vessel built in New Zealand, which as far as I know, was not built in any other part of the world.

 

THESE VESSELS WERE CALLED SCOWS

The originator of this class of vessel was Mr George Spencer – a Yankee sea captain. He persuaded Mr John Meiklejohn, shipbuilder of Omaha, to build one for the partnership of he and Mr Septimus Meiklejohn. The details could be worked out during the construction.

The first boat, square at both ends, was rather a failure.

One night, when George and Septimus were running this scow – called the ‘Lake Erie’ – to the Thames, they saw a vessel’s lights ahead of them. About two hours later they thought they were overtaking her and so were in high spirits. About 4.00 am they were sure they had caught up a little on her, and George said to Sep – ‘By jingo, we are not the slowest vessel in Auckland’ – to which Sep replied ‘No this is one we can beat anyway’.

Neither could sleep for thinking how fast their new boat was.

At last, when the cold dawn lit the leaden sea, much to their chagrin, what did they behold?!!

A cutter in full sail, ‘tis true, but, towing a large steam boiler to the Thames.

 

!!THAT SETTLED MATTERS!!

 

They sold her, and returning home, built another one called ‘The Lake Michigan’, which was a success and sailed extremely well.

Scows improved a great deal afterwards, becoming good sailers – good sea boats – fit to sail to any part of the world – and their flat bottoms especially adapted them for the harbours and small tidal rivers.

I must say something about the class of men who ran the small cutters and the schooners in the early days. They were, as a rule, a straight forward and honest class of men.

The settlers would readily trust them with money to get household items from Auckland. I would say that these sailors were fairly sober men though most of them drank rum – the usual drink of those early days. Although the vessels were small, you would have thought they were going on a long deep sea voyage. They carried a case of those very hard ship’s biscuits and a harness cask with ‘salt horse’ as they called it. The crew drank a great deal of black coffee and when they came ashore they would drink your bottles of yeast if you had forgotten to hide them.

It was also astonishing how few accidents happened. I only remember one where lives were lost. The ship left the Mahurangi and sank between the Wade and Maloney’s reef, all hands being drowned.

Her mast was sticking out of the water and a blue shirt was tied to it.

Since I have mentioned the name of Maloney’s Reef, I will relate how it is said to have got its name.

A vessel bound for Auckland had, as one of its passengers, a Mr Maloney. It was a very calm night and the tide was turning to run out when the boat was close to the reef, the captain decided to drop anchor. When daylight came Maloney was walking on the deck and he looked over the side and saw the anchor (which had fallen on the rocks), with it’s

flukes sticking out of the water.

Maloney got a fright, ran aft, and poked his head in the cabin passageway and yelled out to the captain, ‘Come on deck. Quick! The anchor is afloat and we are all adrift’.

 

EARLY YARDS AND SHIPS

No story of ships and builders would be complete without some reference to the very early shipbuilding in New Zealand. The first boats recorded – that I know of – were two vessels of 65 tons built at Dusky Bay in the South Island – ‘The Endeavour’ in the year 1793 and another named ‘The Assistance’ in 1796. The first real shipbuilding yard was started at Hokianga about the year 1824. The first ship built there being called ‘The Enterprise’.

I take my information from the writings of Mr Earle, who says that ‘The Enterprise’ was wrecked at Hokianga while coming from Sydney in 1829. Another vessel, a brigantine called ‘The New Zealand’ of 200 tons was built there as well as three smaller vessels. The names of the shipbuilders, as far as I can make out were Messrs Bone and Ramsey, and for defense they had four nine pounders on a hill close to the yard.

As New Zealand was not at that time a recognized British colony the owners had great difficulty in having these boats registered as they could not register them in Sydney either so they secured permits to sail them.

On 24 July 1824, a vessel was commenced at the Bay of Islands. The Reverend H. Williams writes – ‘In the construction of a vessel at the Bay of Islands, the first mention of the name of Mr Gilbert Mair appears in the pages of New Zealand history’.

While he was helping Mr Williams and others to build the vessel they were surrounded by a large party of Maoris, who, for some fancied grievance were in a furious rage and threatened to burn the vessel. Nothing daunted, Mr Williams seized a stout stake and Mr Mair a broken oar which they used so vigorously that the warriors were soon put to flight, but not before Mr Mair’s left arm was broken in two places.

The launching of ‘The Herald’ – as the mission vessel was called – took place on 24 January 1826.

It was very amusing how the Maoris behaved before that great event – the launch of a new vessel.

Due notice of the launch having been given, a fleet of canoes assembled while numbers of natives came from inland – partly from curiosity – partly in hope of payment for their assistance. It was estimated that between three and four thousand persons were present.

The natives, who had supposed that the vessel was to be moved off in Maori style by men taking each side, passed their time in calculating the amount of payment they were to receive, and in devising ways and means of extorting a greater price. They argued that the difference in size between a canoe and a vessel of 50 or 60 tons should be taken into account. Finally they affirmed they would not move hand or foot to help in the launch until their terms had been met.

In anticipation, they were already engaged in apportioning the payment among themselves.

Then Mr Williams quietly announced that all was ready, but instead of asking the aid of the Maoris or seeking to clinch a bargain with them, he walked to the prow of the vessel, and named her ‘The Herald’. Then the dog shores were knocked away and to the utter astonishment of the natives, the ship slid down the ways and into the water.

At Mahurangi, in the year of 1832, Captain Dacre arranged with Gordon Brown (who had a timber yard in Sydney where he sold NZ timbers) to superintend the cutting of spars. In a letter written from Mahurangi by Mr G Brown in February 1835, he remarks that – ‘Our natives were so enriched by the buffalo last year that they positively refused to work’.

Captain Dacre first arrived in NZ as master of a mission schooner named ‘Endeavour’. That was in the year 1824.

Another well known captain was Captain Daldy who arrived in Auckland on 1 July 1841. He was one of the first to run vessels between Auckland and Mahurangi, and married Miss Frances Pulham, a sister of a well known pioneering family. He also founded a commercial firm in Auckland known as ‘Combes & Daldy’.

Other captains who traded to Mahurangi before 1864, were – Captains Grange – Trimmer – Browne – Dam – J Sullivan – D Sullivan – T Scott – Pulham – Kasper – Quinn – Bushell – Stuckey – and Ryan.

The largest vessel built in NZ was ‘The Stirlingshire’ of 400 tons, built at Great Barrier by Mr Gillies of Coromandel, in 1861.

In the year 1842, Mr George Darroch with his wife and family came to New Zealand in ‘The Jane Gifford’. Almost immediately he started shipbuilding in Auckland.

In 1852, he went to live in Mahurangi and commenced shipbuilding there. The first vessel named ‘Eagle’, was built in a little bay between Dyer’s Creek and Cowan’s Bay. After that he built near his home in Marriage Bay. Although he built 21 vessels in New Zealand, I am sure of the names of seven or eight, he built eleven mostly cutters in Mahurangi and the details are – in 1852 ‘Eagle’ 20 tons- in 1855 ‘Maggie’ 15 tons –

‘Waiwatta’ and ‘Kaiaia’ – in 1859 ‘Muraniwi’ 16 tons – ‘Big Heart’ – ‘Maria’ – in 1860

‘Lark’ 24 tons – ‘Exert’ – ‘William’ – and ‘Joseph’.

In Auckland he built ‘The Argyle’ – ‘Highlander’ – ‘Owen’- ‘Marea’ – ‘Nicholas’ – ‘Robert’ – ‘Clyde’ – ‘Hawkhead’ – ‘George Tauranga’- ‘Captain Wood’ – and ‘Daring’.

Mr Thomas Scott, one of the very early settlers in Mahurangi, began building about 1852 or 1853. I know that by 1854 he was well established – he gave up the business in 1863. His two sons – Captain Thomas and Captain George – built three vessels after that. Mr Scott Snr must have built many more vessels than those I have put down under his name, but I have not been able to trace them. These vessels I put down under him were all built in Mahurangi.

I do not know who else could have built them at that time. I am not sure who built the following list of ships though I think it must have been Mr Scott Snr, but they were all built in Mahurangi – ‘Duke of Wellington’ 17 tons in 1864 – ‘Rosella’ 36 tons in 1861, “William Julia’ 33 tons – ‘Prince of Wales’ 23 tons at Puhoi in 1863 – ‘Mary Ann’ in 1855 20 tons – ‘James and Julia’ in 1855 17 tons – ‘Gem’ in 1857 24 tons – ‘Hoteroa’ in 1857 24 tons – ‘Industry’ in 1858 24 tons – ‘’ Annie’ in 1857 at Waiwera 23 tons – ‘Three Sisters’ in 1858 26 & a half tons – ‘Eclipse’ in 1861 24 tons – ‘Australian Maid’ in 1862 of 58 tons – “Frances’ and ‘Julia’.

At their shipyard at Mahurangi the Scott Bros. (sons of Mr Thomas Scott) built the ‘Volunteer’ in 1863 of 24 tons – ‘The America’ in 1865 of 40 tons – and ‘The Gypsy’ in 1870.

The following vessels were in existence in 1865 and everything points to the fact that a big proportion of them were built at Mahurangi – ‘Fay’ – ‘Napi’ – ‘Mary’ – ‘Endeavour’ – ‘Osprey’ – ‘Gipsy’ ( not the one built in 1870) – ‘Emerald Isle’- ‘Herald’ – ‘Midge’ – and ‘Water Witch’.

Mr John Darrach the last of the Mahurangi builders built ships at Mahurangi from 1866 to 1880 including – ‘Cleopatra’ a top sail schooner about 1866 and brigantines ‘Flirt’ – ‘Cornet’ – ‘Ethel’ – ‘Helena’ – ‘Omaru’ – ‘Agnes’ – ‘Ada C. Owen’ and the cutter ‘Start’ – ‘Boneta’ a schooner – the two top sail schooners ‘Marmion’ and ‘Julia Price’ – and the schooners ‘Arthur Wakefield’ – ‘Rover’ – ‘Saxon’ – ‘Elizabeth’ – and ‘Energy’. In 1860 he built the brigantine ‘Borealis’ – the last vessel to be launched at Mahurangi.

Messrs Ben and Tom built in Mahurangi two top sail schooners – ‘The Stately’ in 1866 of 87 tons and in 1868 ‘The Fiery Cross’ of 72 tons, as well as the cutter ‘Hercules’ in 1865.

Mr Malcolm Darrach, son of Mr John Darrach, built two brigantines at Mahurangi – ‘The Maud Graham’- and ‘Linda Webber’.

Mr William Southhgate built two cutters at Warkworth – ‘The Warkworth’ in 1874 of 35 tons – and ‘Eleanor’ in 1876 of 35 tons.

Mr James Darroch, son of Mr George Darroch, (not to confused with the Darrach family) built a number of vessels at Mahurangi – ‘Bee’ in 1862 of 31 tons – ‘General Cameron’ in 1864, a schooner of 41 tons – ‘Bittern’ in 1865 a cutter of 41 tons – ‘Mahurangi’ in 1865, a cutter of 21 tons – ‘Betsy’ in 1864, a cutter of 35 tons – ‘Whangarei’ in 1867, a cutter of 32 tons, ‘Golden Isle’ in 1868, a brigantine of 72 tons – ‘Maud’ in 1869, a cutter of 40 tons.

Mr James Clare, built in Mahurangi – ‘The Antelope’ in 1862, a cutter of 17 tons – ‘Sea Belle’ in 1864, a cutter of 28 tons.

Mr Rufus Dunning, built at Mahurangi – ‘Lady of the Lake’, a scow – at Waiwera he built two schooners ‘Waiwera’, and ‘Telegraph’ in 1876.

Mr George Sharpe built at Mahurangi – in 1867, a ketch ‘Wild Duck’ of 43 tons.

At Matakana he also built – the cutter ‘Sovereign of the Seas’ in 1866 of 31 tons, and ‘Charlotte’ in 1867 of 29 tons.

At Tairoa, he built the top sail schooner ‘Belle Brandon’ and the cutter ‘Coralie’.

At Pakiri, he built in 1870, a schooner named ‘May Queen’, and the scows ‘Lake Superior’ and ‘Prince Rupert’.

 

VESSELS BUILT AT MATAKANA

Mr Sharpe’s two vessels – “Sovereign of the Seas’ and ‘Charlotte’ – ‘Sea Flower’ in 1867 of 30 tons – ‘Onward’ built by Mr Bagnall in 1867 of 69 tons – ‘Nile’ built at Mullet Point in 1856 of 24 tons – ‘Eagle’ in 1865 of 41 tons – ‘Black Hawk’ by Mr John Darrach (who built in Mahurangi), in 1865, 44 tons – ‘Excelsior’ by Mr John Darrach in 1866, 92 tons, ‘Boneta’ 1861, 20 tons – ‘Daring’, in 1856, 35 tons – ‘Glance’, 1857, 24 tons – ‘Pioneer’, 1859, 23 tons.

During this time, between 1859 and 1868 Mr Taylor was building.

 

VESSELS BUILT AT LITTLE OMAHA (LEIGH)

At Mr McQuarrie’s yard – ‘Banshee’ 1865 – ‘Flying Cloud’ a brigantine of 235 tons in 1867 – and ‘The Arcadia’ for Mr K McKenzie.

Mr D Matheson built ‘The Ryno’ a brigantine – ‘Coquette’ a schooner of 43 tons in 1867 – ‘The Saucy Lass’ a schooner, and about 1883 a schooner called ‘Three Cheers’.

Mr Angus Matheson built two cutters named ‘Rangatira’ (a racing cutter) and ‘Mary Ann’.

 

AT BIG OMAHA

Mr McCallum built in 1866 ‘Cora’ a vessel of 46 tons. In 1860, a vessel named ‘The Ruby’ was built there, but I cannot trace the builder.

Mr John Meiklejohn built – the schooners ‘Rona’ – ‘Hinemoa’ – ‘Rapid’ – ‘Argo’ – ‘Queen’ – ‘Blue Bell’ – ‘Excelsior’ –‘Catherine’ – ‘Pioneer’ – ‘The Omaha’ – the top sail schooner – ‘Zior’ – and the first scows ‘Lake Erie’ – ‘Michigan’ – ‘Lagoon’ – as well as others of the same class – ‘Ruakaka’ – ‘Hauturu’ – and ‘Bee’.

Mr Alexander ( Captain Sandy) Meiklejohn built the ‘Day Dawn’.

Mr D M Darroch (the grandson of Mr George Darroch and writer of this account) – the tonnages are of tons burden – built ‘Una’, 1863, 100 tons – ‘Ida’, 1884, 50 tons, ‘Dungarvon’, 1886, 30 tons – ‘Irene’, 1888, 60 tons – ‘May’, 1889, 65 tons – ‘Excelsior’, 1890, 80 tons – ‘Shamrock’, 85 tons – ‘Thistle’, 1894, 35 tons – ‘Whakapai’, 1896, 120 tons – ‘Oban’, 1897, 60 tons – ‘Kahu’, 1899, 70 tons – ‘St Ann’, 1900, 35 tons – ‘Surprise’, 1900, 125 tons – ‘Southern Isle’ (a three masted schooner), 1901, 140 tons – ‘Eunice’ (a three masted topsail schooner), 1902, 250 tons, ‘Reta’, 1903, 30 tons – ‘Reliance’, 1904, 130 tons – ‘Glena’, 1904, 35 tons – ‘Pahaki’, 1905, 35 tons – ‘Edith’, 1905, 35 tons – ‘Scot’, 1905, 40 tons – ‘Tuahine’, 1906, 35 tons – ‘Huia, 1906, 50 tons – ‘Daphne’, 1906, 60 tons – ‘Jane Gifford’, 1907, 60 tons – ‘Esme’, 1908, 60 tons – ‘Ethel Wells’, 1908, 60 tons – ‘Nor West’, 1908, 60 tons – ‘Kaiaia’, 1909, 70 tons – ‘Lena Gladys’, 1910, 70 tons – ‘Kitty Fraser’, 1911, 80 tons – ‘Kapua’, 1912, 80 tons – ‘Onerahi’, 1913, 85 tons – ‘Ngahau’, 1921, 120 tons – ‘Owhiti’, 1921, 90 tons – ‘Alwyn G.’, 1912, 60 tons.

 

So ends this article.

 

David McKay Darroch