No sooner had the "Gertrude" departed from St. Ann’s
than a new committee was formed to make a fresh party, the members of
which were willing to wind up their affairs and set, sail for New Zealand.
Leaders were not awanting, so that in a short time 20 families had
signified their intention of joining the expedition. As the St. Ann’s
harbour was liable to be ice-bound during the winter, this party decided
to build their ship at Big Bras D’Or, where open water generally
prevailed. In December, 1856, they launched the "
Spray," a brigantine of 100 tons. The earlier experiences of the
people taught them how to proceed in the building and equipping of their
vessel. The "Spray" sailed from Big Bras D’Or on January 13, 1857, with 66
passengers bound for Auckland. January 12 was known as Old New Year’s Day,
so they decided that this day should be spent as was their wont in the
Highlands. There the people retained the old custom of celebrating New
Year’s Day on January 12. Old customs die hard, and in remote corners of
the country January 12 is still held as New Year’s Day. The people visited
each other, bade each other a "bliadhna maith ur," or a Guid New Year, and
partook of such hospitalities as were seasonable. The same custom
continued at St. Ann’s and, though the occasion was depressing both for
those leaving and those remaining, still they strove to overcome their
feelings. Reference was frequently made to the smallness of their ship,
but how fortunate it was they were to sail on the first day of the year.
Captain Duncan was quite satisfied with his craft, and
pointed out that safety did not lie in size but in buoyancy, structure,
and seamanship. Their forefathers crossed stormier oceans in coracles, and
how much stronger was their ship built of sound Cape Breton oak. Our
destiny seems to be in New Zealand, and as God has directed us thither He
will care for us on the journey. After many "beannachds" (good-byes),
prayers, and tears, the people joined their ship and sang
"(‘ha tille, cha tille, cha tille me tuilleadh
(Return, return, return we never.)
The "Spray" made an uneventful voyage and arrived at
Auckland on June 26, 1857. When she arrived at Waipu the district had
become well settled with some 500 Scots and Nova Scotians. Even with such
numbers there was still plenty of room in the Waipu block, with plenty
more outside it which could be purchased at ten shillings per acre.
RENEWED EXCITEMENT IN ST. ANN’S.
While the " Spray’ was
wending her way to Auckland, letters arrived at St. Ann’s from friends who
had sailed in the " Gertrude." These letters
caused much excitement. They described Auckland harbour as the most
beautiful natural port they had ever seen. Here, too, was an empty land
with so pleasant a climate that men could work in their shirt sleeves at
all seasons of the year. Most important of all—Mr. John Munro had secured
for them an extensive area of freehold land. Then, too, this block of land
was reserved for such Scots and Nova Scotians as chose to follow those who
had already settled there. The climate and soil was capable of producing
in abundance maize, wheat, and potatoes, and such fruits as oranges and
grapes. There were no wild animals and nothing to interfere with their
comfort. Waipu they described as a lovely locality situated on the edge of
the sea, with numerous islands some two or three miles distant. Their
friends had abundant food, while a calico tent was sufficient for a home.
These letters produced a sensation, and almost everyone in St. Ann’s
decided to migrate to New Zealand.
It was agreed they should build their ship at Big Bras
D’Or. There were many willing hands and capable minds to overtake the
work, so that in six months they had built a fine barque of
300 tons which they named the
" Breadalbane." The people were so enthusiastic about the venture,
and so determined to overcome difficulties, that they disposed of their
stock and properties for nominal sums. New Zealand was pictured as an El
Dorado, in which no winter existed, and consequently there was no
struggling with domestic animals such as there was in St. Ann’s. Here they
were promised a free gift of about 100 acres for each family. Here, too,
vines, oranges, and tobacco would grow in the open. What a change, and how
easy would be the struggle for existence. So infectious was their
enthusiasm, that almost everyomic in the settlement wished to depart with
the " Breadalbane." There were many
difficulties, however, as they could not dispose of their stock or land on
any satisfactory terms owing to the absence of newcomers.
On December 27, 1857, the "Breadalbane
" sailed with 129 people direct for Auckland.
The old scenes on departure were not repeated, as now they were satisfied
that the journey was easy and the reward great. The ship arrived at
Auckland on May 23, 1858, after a voyage of 148 days. The voyages of these
vessels were somewhat prolonged, but as they were small and not sailing as
a commercial venture time was not of so great importance. They were the
masters and sailors themselves, so that safety and convenience were their
guiding principles. After a few days’ rest at Auckland, they passed on to
Waipu, and were heartily welcomed by their old friends. By the terms of
the Act, which Mr. John Munro of the Gertrude" secured, the passengers by
the " Breadalbane" had the same rights to
acquire a free gift of land as had those who preceded them. This, however,
necessitated the extending of the settlement, both southwards and
northwards, of the original block. The settlement made by the "Highland
Lass" migrants remained the centre, and it still holds its place of
importance.
SHIPBUILDING AT WAIPU.
As the people overcame the earlier difficulties of
hut-building, bush burning, and the cultivating of some land, they had to
consider some means of transport to Auckland. An open boat served the
purpose during good weather, but as Auckland (their principal market) was
100 miles distant, something more substantial was
desirable. In a newly settled country such as New Zealand was at
this time, there were no roads except a few rudely-made paths in the chief
centres. The government had to construct all roads, and as the people were
few and the country undeveloped taxes or money loans were matters of
immense difficulty. Land was the only commodity the government
had for sale, and as there were no
markets for the products of the land its value was correspondingly small.
Hence progress was slow, and people were forced to find their own means of
transport. The sea was their easiest road, so that shipbuilding on a small
scale became absolutely necessary. The country consisted of three or four
long narrow islands that lent themselves to the rearing of a maritime
race. The North Island was almost entirely occupied by hostile native
tribes who resented the Pakeha (white man) travelling over the country.
Most of the Waipu people were comparatively poor so far as gold was
concerned, hence they had to seek work in order to purchase clothing and a
few articles the land could not produce. Owing to their system of mutual
help, or Christian Socialism, shelter and such things as the land produced
were within the reach of everyone; but very few people are satisfied with
the bare necessities of life; hence money and what it commands appealed to
them. Were they living in a country where clothing was unnecessary and the
gratifying of taste unknown, they might endure the simple life; but as
civilization advances living becomes more and more complex, so that money
or something easy of exchange becomes a necessity. No doubt the Waipu
people made this discovery, and hence the young men wished to move away
where money could be earned. Their nearest port was Auckland, and so they
must construct a seaworthy vessel. At this point the brothers Duncan and
Murdo Mckenzie again came to the rescue. They financed the matter, while
the brothers John and Roderick McGregor agreed to build her. The people
got busy cutting timber, and in a few months the McGregors built a
splendid cutter of 50 tons, which they named the "Flora Macdonald" after
the immortal Scottish heroine. She carried parties of men to the
wharf-building operations and street making in Auckland, as well as
harvesting parties during the season, and returned with such domestic
animals and articles of food and clothing as the settlement required. At
this juncture Captain Duncan McKenzie removed from Auckland and set up his
store at Marsden Point on Whangarei Bay. Here his home became the trading
centre for Waipu, and the people referred to it as the place of refuge for
every weary traveller.
