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H. M. S Buffalo
Part 2
Monday 1st June. Light airs & cloudy.
4 am Light winds & fine.
8 am Ditto weather.
Noon. Light variable wind s & cloudy.
2:30 pm A breeze from NW with rain.
Let go B.Bower veered to 45 feet. Hove into 75 feet on S Bower. Up boats.
4 pm Light variable airs with squally rain.
8 pm Fresh breezes & showery.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
 
Tuesday 2nd June. Moderate & showery.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 am Fresh breezes & cloudy. Armourer on shore at forge employed as requisite.
Noon. Ditto weather
4 pm Ditto weather. Saw the appearance of a sunken rock NW ½ N by ½ mile from the ship.
Sunset. Up boats.
8 pm Fresh breezes & cloudy.
Midnight. Strong breeze with heavy squalls.
Wednesday 3rd June. Strong breezes & squally.
4 am Ditto weather.
6 am More moderate. Wind gradually shifting to N.W.
8 am Moderate & fine with a heavy swell. Washed clothes.
Noon. Ditto weather. Armourer at Forge.
4 pm Light breezes & cloudy.
Sunset. Up boats. Midnight. Ditto weather.
 
Thursday 4th June. Light breezes & cloudy.
4 am Ditto weather with rain.
8 am Moderate & fine. Sent cutter to the forest with tools.
10 am Boarded a small schooner in the offing from Bay of Plenty bound to the river Thames.
Noon. Light breezes & fine.
6 pm Light airs & cloudy with frequent rain. Up boats.
Midnight. Light airs & cloudy.
 
Friday 5th June. Light breezes & cloudy with showers.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 am Ditto weather. Weighed the hedge anchor.
Noon. Fresh breezes with frequent showers.
Ranged Stream Cable. Employed stowing and hustling yards.
4 pm Fresh breezes & cloudy. Veered to 100 feet on S Bower.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
 
Saturday 6th June. Fresh breezes & cloudy.
4.am Ditto weather.
8 am Ditto weather. Employed cleaning ship.
Noon. Moderate to fine.
4 pm Ditto weather.
6 pm Ditto weather.
Midnight. Calm with drizzling rain.
 
Sunday 7th June. Variable airs, cloudy with rain.
4 am Fresh breezes & thick hazy weather.
6 am Shortened in to 75 feet on S. Bower.
8 am Cloudy with rain.
9:30 am Sent Cutter with four additional men for the party in the forest and various Blacks.
Noon. Light breezes & showery.
4 pm Ditto weather.
6 pm Cloudy weather. Cutter returned not being able to land for the surf on beach.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
 
Monday 8th June. Light airs & cloudy.
4 am Ditto weather.
9 am Sent boats with 6 weeks provisions to party in the forest. Armourer at forge.
Noon. Ditto weather.
6 pm Light winds & cloudy. Up boats.
8 pm Light breezes & fine.
Midnight. Cloudy.
Tuesday 9th June. Light winds & cloudy.
4 am Cloudy with continual rain.
8 am Light breezes with heavy rain. Sent Cutter to forest. Armourer at the forge. People employed variously.
Noon. Light winds & fine.
Sunset. Up boats.
Midnight. Variable airs & cloudy.
Wednesday 10th June. Light winds & cloudy.
4 am Ditto weather.
7 am Sent Cutter out for wood.
8 am Light breezes & cloudy. Armourer on shore at the forge.
Noon. Ditto weather. Barometer falling.
6 pm Moderate with heavy rain. Issued ½ allowance of Spirits to ship’s company.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Thursday 11th June. Light winds & cloudy with heavy rain.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 am Fresh breezes with thick weather & heavy rain.
Employed working up Junk and as necessary.
**Junk: Old and condemned rope used for making swabs, mats, fenders oakum etc.
** Oakum: Tarred hemp fibres used for caulking seams of the decks and sides of a wooden ship to make it watertight.
Noon. Strong breezes & cloudy. Veered cable.
6 pm Ditto weather.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
 
Friday 12th June. Strong breezes & cloudy.
2 am Squally, rainy weather.
4 am Strong breezes & rainy with heavy squalls at times.
Employed working up Junk.
Noon. Fresh gales & hard squalls.
4 pm Ditto weather with rain.
6 pm Moderate with heavy rain.
Midnight. Moderate & showery.
Saturday 13th June. Moderate with heavy rain at times.
4 am Moderate & cloudy.
8 am Moderate with drizzling rain. Employed cleaning ship.
Got the forge off from shore.
Noon. Moderate & cloudy. Employed as was requisite.
4 pm Moderate & fine.
6 pm Light breezes & fine.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Sunday 14th June. Light breezes & fine.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 am Moderate & fine.
9 am Sent Cutter to the party in the forest with a message Mr. Paul to come
on board with men to assist in moving the ship.
Noon. Ditto weather.
4 pm Ditto weather.
Cutter returned not having communicated in consequence of surf.
6 pm Fresh breezes & cloudy.
Midnight. Squally showery weather.
 
Monday 15th June. Moderate with occasional squalls with rain.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 am Moderate with drizzling rain. People employed as was necessary.
Carpenters working a foremast for Pinnace.
Noon. Fresh breezes & cloudy.
4 pm Ditto weather.
6 pm Ditto weather.
Midnight. Moderate & fine.
 
Tuesday 16th June. Moderate & fine.
4 am Ditto weather.
Daylight glided Top Mast, crossed the Topsail yards. Got Jib Boom out.
People employed variously.
Noon. Light breezes & fine. Employed Reeving running gear.
4 pm Ditto weather.
8 pm Moderate & cloudy.
Midnight. Light winds & fine.
 
Wednesday 17th June. Light breezes & fine.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 am Moderate & fine. Employed bending sails and preparing for sea.
Got stream anchor in board.
Noon. Moderate with passing clouds. Stowed the sheet anchor.
4 pm Ditto weather.
6 pm Light breezes & cloudy. Up boats.
Midnight. Moderate with rain.
 
Thursday 18th June. Moderate with drizzling rain.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 am Moderate & cloudy. Sent Cutter for firewood. Employed as was necessary.
Noon. Ditto weather.
4 pm Fresh breezes & cloudy.
6 pm Ditto weather. Up boats.
Midnight. Moderate & cloudy
.
Friday 19th June. Moderate & cloudy.
4 am Moderate with heavy rain.
8 am Ditto weather. Artificers employed variously.
Noon. Moderate with rain. Employed variously.
4 pm Moderate & cloudy.
6 pm Ditto weather with passing showers.
8 pm Light breezes & cloudy.
Midnight. Ditto weather. Moderate & cloudy.
 
Saturday 20th June. Light breezes & cloudy.
4 am Variable winds & showery.
8 am Light breezes & fine. Employed cleaning ship.
Noon. Light variable winds & fine.
4 pm Ditto weather.
6 pm Light airs & cloudy. Up boats.
Midnight. Light winds & fine.
 
Sunday 21st June. Light breezes & fine.
4 am Ditto weather. Hoisted sails to dry.
10 am Mustered by Divisions. Un moored ship. More light breezes & fine.
Weighed & made sail standing to Northern .
4 pm Ditto weather.
8 pm Light winds & fine.
11:30 pm Shortened sail. Came to with S Bower in 16 feet off our station at Wakahonga.
Furled sails.
Midnight. Light winds & fine.
 
Monday 22nd June. Light winds & fine.
4 am Moderate & fine.
8 am Ditto weather.
Employed landing Pinnace with provisions for party on shore.
Noon. Ditto weather. Sent 6 weeks provisions to forest.
4. pm Moderate & fine.
8 pm Moderate & fine with clear weather.
10 pm Breeze freshening from SSW.
Midnight. Fresh breezes & squally.

Tuesday 23rd June. Fresh breezes & squally.
4 am Moderate & fine.
Daylight. Pointed top Gallant masts.
8 am Fresh breezes & fine.
Noon. Ditto weather. Up Top Gallant masts. Crossed the yards.
4 pm Ditto weather.
6 pm Moderate & fine.
8 pm Ditto weather with a swell from east.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Wednesday 24th June. Light breezes & fine with a heavy swell from East.
4 am Ditto weather. Ship rolling heavily.
Daylight. Ditto weather.
8 am Moderate & fine with heavy swell.
8:30 am Shortened in Cable.
From the heavy surges carried away deck stoppers, Nippers & double block of Compressor.
12:20 pm The Cable parted. Made sail.
12:40 pm Hove to. Hauled in slack cable & found that the link about the Anchor
shackle had carried away. Standing to NE.
2:30 pm Bore up from Mercury Bay. Sent S. Bower chain to sheet anchor.
4:40 pm Shortened sail. Came to in Cooks Bay in 5 ½ feet Furled sails.
12 pm Light breezes & fine.
Thursday 25th June. Light breezes & fine with swell from easterly.
4 am Ditto weather.
Daylight. Employed making Nippers.
8 am Moderate & fine. Sent boat to sound round ship.
Carpenters making cleats etc as necessary. Armourer examining Deck stoppers & ring bolts.
Noon. Ditto weather.
4 pm Ditto weather.
Sunset. Up boats.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
 
Friday 26th June. Light variable winds & fine.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 am Ditto weather. Hung stream anchor to Larboard. Cat head & bend chain cable.
**To Cat: The process of hoisting an anchor by its ring so that it
hangs at readiness for letting go.
Employed as necessary.
Noon. Moderate & fine. Sent Cutter for firewood.
4 pm Light breezes & fine.
6 pm Ditto weather with an easterly swell.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Saturday 27th June. Variable airs & fine.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 am Light breezes & fine. Sent Cutter for firewood.
Noon. Light airs & fine.
4 pm Light breezes & fine.
Sunset. Up boats.
8 pm Ditto weather.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Sunday 28th June. Light variable winds & fine.
4 am Ditto weather.
7:30 am Alias a ship in the offering.
8 am Light winds & cloudy.
10:30 am Mustered by divisions. A boat came alongside from H.M.S. Herald.
Noon. Light breezes & cloudy weather.
pm Light breezes & fine. H.M.S. Herald in the offering.
4 pm Light airs & fine.
6 pm Variable airs inclining to calm.
Midnight. Calm & cloudy.
Monday 29th June. Light airs with drizzling rain.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 am Light airs & cloudy. Veered to 20 feet.
Noon. Moderate & fine.
1:30 pm Weighed & made sail. Set Canvases & Top Gallant sails, tacked as requisite.
Working out of Cooks Bay.
3:30 pm Shortened sail and came to with B Bower in Mercury Bay. 7 feet.
Furled sails. Veered to 50 feet.
8 pm Moderate & cloudy.
Midnight. Fresh breezes with dark rainy weather. Barometer falling.
 
Tuesday 30th June. Fresh breezes & cloudy.
1:30 am A heavy squall with rain. Let go Larboard sheet anchor. Veered to 36 feet.
Pointed yards to the wind.
4 am More moderate.
8 am Light breezes with heavy rain. Weighed sheet anchor.
11 am Weighed & made sail running out of Mercury Bay.
Noon. Light airs & fine.
Bearings & Distance. Tower Rock E 1 ½ miles.
pm Light airs & fine winds. Trimmed as requisite.
2 pm Eastward of Alderman's ESE.
4 pm Ditto weather. Castle Island SE ¼ E. Tower Rock W/S
6 pm Moderate & fine. Castle Island SW /S. 2 or 3 miles.
8 pm Light breezes & cloudy. Castle island SSW 3 or 4 miles.
10:30 pm Tacked.
Midnight. Moderate & fine. Tacked.
Wednesday 1st July. Moderate & fine.
2 am South island Centre of Alderman NE 3 or 4 miles.
3 am Tacked.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 am Ditto weather. Centre of Alderman island. East Saddle Hill S /W.
Tacked as requisite, working to windward.
11:45 am Sent boat to party in forest.
Noon. Moderate & fine.
Bearings & distance. Centre of Alderman Island E/N ½ N.
Moderate & cloudy weather.
4 pm Ditto weather. South Alderman Island NE/N North end of Otahuhu SW/W
6 pm Moderate & cloudy with lightening in east. Mayor Island SE/E 7 or 8 miles.
8 pm Ditto weather.
10:30 pm Wore centre of Court of Alderman E ½ N.
Midnight. Moderate & cloudy. Mayor Island S.E.
Tuesday 2nd July. Moderate & cloudy.
1:45 am Wore centre of Mayor Island. SE/E
4 am Moderate & fine.
6 am Wore Mayor Island SE/E 1/2E.
8 am Moderate & fine. Center of Mayor Island SE/E ½ E.
Tacked as requisite working up for Mayor Island.
Noon. Moderate & fine.
Bearings & Distance. Mayor Island SE/E 2 miles.
Moderate & fine. Tacked as requisite.
3 pm Hove to. Canoe came along side. Filled, stood off.
4 pm Ditto weather. Tacked. Made sail as requisite.
6 pm Ditto weather. Southward of Mayor island E/N 5 miles.
8 pm Ditto weather. Wore occasionally standing off & on.
Midnight. Fresh breezes & cloudy.

Friday 3rd July. Fresh breezes & squally.
2 am Moderate & fine.
4 am Centre of the island NNW.
8 am Ditto weather. Perforated point South end of Mayor Island NW/N 3 miles.
Sent cutter on shore. Made & shortened sail occasionally standing off & on.
Noon. Moderate & fine.
Bearings & Distance. Centre Mayor Island NNW 5 miles. Moderate & fine.
Tacked occasionally between the island and the mainland.
4 pm Ditto weather. Cutter returned bringing 19 natives to assist in the forest.
6 pm Light breezes & fine.
7:30 pm Shortened sails to Top sails.
8 pm Light breezes & fine. Centre of Mayor Island NE/E 3 leagues.
Midnight. Ditto weather. Centre of Mayor Island. NE 9 miles.
Saturday 4th July. Light breezes & fine. Tacked as requisite.
4 am Ditto weather. Centre of Mayor Island NE/N 5 or 6 miles.
8 am Ditto weather. Centre of Mayor Island NNE.
Sent Cutter & Jolly boat for provisions for the natives. Stood off and on.
Noon Light airs & fine.
Bearings & distance. Centre of Mayor Island NNE 2 or 3 miles. Light airs
4 pm Ditto weather. Boats returned with provisions for the natives.
6 pm Light winds & fine. Centre of Mayor Island ESE 2 miles.
8 pm Ditto weather. Centre of Island E/S 5 or 6 miles.
12 pm Ditto weather. Centre of Island E 4 or 5 miles.
Sunday 5th July. Light winds & fine. Tacked as requisite.
4 am Ditto weather. Centre of Mayor Island. E ½ N 4 or 5 miles.
8 am Ditto weather. Sent boats on shore for natives. Tacked occasionally.
Noon. Light winds & fine.
Bearings & Distance. Centre of Mayor Island E 2 or 3 miles. Light breezes & fine.
3 pm Cutter returned with 4 natives and provisions.
4 pm Light winds & fine. Sent Cutter on shore.
5 :30 Ditto. Returned with 25 natives.
8 pm Ditto weather. Made all sail.
10:45 pm Island of Otahuhu SW 4 or 5 miles.
Midnight. Moderate & fine. North end of Otahuhu SE/S Court of Alderman NE.
 
Monday 6th July. Moderate & fine.
Shortened sail. Hove to.
4 am Ditto weather. North of Otahuhu. SSE Centre of Alderman E ¼ N.
Filled and made sail on Starboard tack.
8 am Ditto weather. Centre of Alderman E/N 1/2N. Castle Is. NNE. Tacked occasionally.
Hoisted Pinnace recall. Come off from forest. Sent the natives on shore in her. Moderate & fine. Made & shortened sail occasionally.
Bearings & Distance. Timber Station SW Centre of Alderman E/N.
Light breezes & fine. Tacked occasionally.
4 pm Light winds & fine. Moored another buoy to last anchor.
6 pm Ditto weather.
Centre of Alderman ENE north end of Otahuhu SE 4 or 5 miles.
7:30 pm Shortened sail. Hove to.
8 pm Light airs & fine. Wore midnight ditto weather.
Centre of Alderman ENE Otahuhu S/E ½ E.
Tuesday 7th July 1840 Light airs & fine. Tacked as requisite.
4 am Ditto weather. Centre of Alderman E/N North & off Otahuhu S1/2 E.
6:30 am Set Courses & Top Gallant sails.
8 am Light breezes & fine. North& off Otahuhu. SW/W.
9:30 am Made all sail steering for Mayor Island.
Bearings & Distance. Centre of Mayor Island SE 5 or 6 miles.
P.M. Light breezes & fine. Tacked as requisite. Working up for Sandy Bay on SE side of Mayor Island.
4 pm Moderate & cloudy.
One tree perforated point SSE ¼ E North east end of Mayor Island SE ¼ East.
Tacked & made sail.
6 pm Moderate & cloudy. SW end of Mayor Island SE ½ S.
8 pm Ditto weather.
Midnight. Moderate & fine. SW end of Mayor Island ESE 6 miles.
Wednesday 8th July. Light breezes & cloudy.
3 am Taken aback. Braced round on Larboard tack.
4 am Ditto weather.
Centre of Mayor Island E ½ N. 6 or 7 miles. Tacked occasionally.
8 am Light breezes & fine.
Made all sail. SW end of Mayor island E ½ S 5 or 6 miles.
8:30 am Sent Jolly boat to communicate with the natives.
Noon. Ditto weather. NW end of Mayor Island NE.
Bearings & Distance. SE end of Mayor Island E ½ S.
pm Light breezes & fine.
1 pm Hove to
3 pm Jolly Boat returned. Up boat. Filled & made sail on Starboard tack.
4 pm Light breezes & cloudy.
Perforated Point NW, SE end of Island NE 2 or 3 miles.
6 pm Moderate & fine. Centre of Alderman NNW 3 or 4 miles.
8 pm Ditto weather. Otahuhu W ½ N.
Midnight. Moderate & cloudy.
Thursday 9th July. Moderate & cloudy. Tacked as requisite.
4 am Ditto weather. Centre of Alderman. N/W
8 am Ditto weather. Otahuhu SW ½ W. Tacked occasionally.
11 am Shortened sail. Came to in Otahuhu Bay with S Bower in 7 feet. Veered to 60 feet. Furled sails North end of Otahuhu N/E ½ E. South end S/E. Middle rock W/SW.
Bearings & Distance at single anchor.
pm Moderate & cloudy with rain.
1 pm Moored ship. Down Top Gallant yards. Struck the mast. Got Jib boom in.
4 pm Moderate & cloudy. Bent sheet cable.
8 pm Light winds & cloudy.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Friday 10th July. Light winds & cloudy.
4 am Light breezes & fine.
8 am Ditto weather. Employed cleaning ship.
Noon. Calm & fine. Sent Cutter & Gig on shore to haul up for repair.
4 pm Calm & fine.
6 pm Ditto weather. Braced yards to the wind.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Saturday 11th July. Calm & cloudy.
4 am Moderate & cloudy.
8 am Ditto weather with drizzling rain.
Sent carpenters on shore to repair boats. Sail makers repairing sails.
Noon. Fresh breezes & squally. Up boats.
4 pm Fresh breezes & thick rainy weather.
6 pm Fresh breezes & squally.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Sunday 12th July. Light breezes & cloudy with drizzling rain.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 am Moderate & cloudy. Sent cutter to party in forest with tools etc.
Noon. Ditto weather with a swell from the northward.
6 pm Strong breezes & squally.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Monday 13th July. Fresh breezes with heavy squalls.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 am Moderate & fine.
Sent Cutter for firewood & carpenters on shore to repair boats.
People employed variously.
Noon. Moderate with squalls.
4 pm Ditto weather.
6 pm Ditto weather.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Tuesday 14th July. Moderate & fine with squalls at time.
4 am Ditto weather.
Day light. Set up Top mast rigging.
8 am Ditto weather. Sent people on shore to wash their clothes.
Noon. Moderate & fine with occasional squalls.
4 pm Ditto weather. People returned on board.
6 pm Moderate & fine.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Wednesday 15th July. Light airs & fine.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 a.m. Ditto weather.
Sent carpenters on shore to repair boats. People employed variously.
Noon. Light breezes & fine.
4 pm Light breezes & cloudy.
6 pm Ditto weather.
Midnight Ditto weather.
Thursday 16th July. Light breezes & cloudy.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 am Light wind & cloudy. Fitted Top Gallant Sails. Sent carpenters
on shore to repair boats, Cutter for firewood. Bent Top Gallant sails.
Noon. Light breezes & cloudy.
4 pm Strong breezes & fine. Cutter returned up ditto etc.
6 pm Ditto weather with a squall from NW.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Friday 17th July. Strong breezes with a heavy swell.
4 am Moderate & cloudy. Launched the boats. Crossed Top Gallant Yards.
Noon. Ditto weather.
1 pm Up moored ship and shortened in to 30 feet on S Bower.
4 pm Moderate & cloudy. Veered to 50 feet.
6 pm Moderate & fine.
8 pm Ditto weather.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Saturday 18th July. Moderate & fine.
4 am Moderate with rain.
8 am Light winds & fine.
9 am Weighed & made sail on Starboard tack. Observed boat on beach in canoe pulling towards.
Fired two guns as a signal to natives to leave her. Up boats. Trimmed. Steering for Mayor Island.
Noon. Light winds & fine.
Bearings & Distance. Centre of Alderman NNE. Light winds & fine.
4 pm Fresh breezes & cloudy. In Top Gallant sails. Up Courses. Hove to.
Sent boat to land the Chief of Mayor Island.
5 pm Boat returned. Up boat. Mayor Island NNW 2 miles. Filled.
6 pm Light breezes & squally. Centre of Mayor Island NNW 3 or 4 miles.
8 pm Moderate & cloudy. Island off Tauranga SW /S 4 or 6 miles.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Sunday 19th July. Moderate & fine.
4 am Light breezes & fine.
5 am Wore. Stood towards Mayor Island.
8 am Ditto weather.
Round Island off Tauranga S ¾ W. South end of Mayor Island NW.
9:40 am Mustered by Divisions.
Noon. Moderate & fine. South west end of Mayor Island W/W 5 or 6 miles.
pm Moderate & fine. Tacked as requisite. Sent Cutter on shore.
4 pm Moderate & cloudy. South end of Mayor Island NW 2 miles.
6 pm Ditto weather. Wore. Cutter returned. Up boat. Pah J. NW/W 2 miles.
8 pm Light breezes & fine. Centre of Mayor Island NW /1/2 N. 5 of 6 miles.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Monday 20th July. Light breezes & fine.
4 am Ditto weather. Wore ship.
Centre of Mayor Island NW ½ N. 3 miles. Set Driver.
6 am Tacked. Set mainsails, Top Gallant Sail & Jib.
8 am Ditto weather.
One tree perforated point S end of Mayor Island NW 4 or 5 miles.
9:30 am Sent Cutter & Gig on shore to Mayor Island for provisions for the natives.
11 am Cutter returned bringing the Chief of the island.
Cleared boat & sent her on shore a second time. Tacked and stood to.
Noon. Light variable winds & fine. Gig returned.
Bearings & distance. Centre of Mayor Island NNW 5 miles. Light airs & cloudy.
1 pm Tacked.
4 pm Ditto weather. Centre of Mayor Island W 4 or 5 miles. Tacked ship.
5 pm Cutter returned with provisions for the natives. Up boat & filled.
6 pm Ditto weather. Centre of Mayor Island W ½ N 5 or 6 miles.
8 pm Light airs & fine. Centre of Mayor Island WS W 7 or 8 miles.
9:30 pm Trimmed & steered west.
Midnight. Moderate & fine. Centre of Mayor Island NNW 4 or 5 miles.
Tuesday 21st July. Variable winds & fine.
Trimmed as requisite.
2 am Up Main sail & Driver.
4 am Variable winds & showery weather. Centre of Mayor Island E ½ S 4 leagues.
7:30 am Squared Yards.
8 am Moderate & showery. Mayor Island E/E. North end of Otahuhu NW ½ W.
Running along the land. Schooner in sight.
9:30 am Trimmed. Hauling in for the timber station.
11:30 am Hove to. Sent the Gig & Cutter on shore with Chief of Mayor Island and provisions for his tribe
and various stores for the party and an increase of 4 seamen.
**Cutter: A clinker built ship’s boat. Length 24—34 feet, pulling eight to 14 oars and rigged originally with two masts,
 with a dipping lug foresail and standing lug mainsail. Often armed with up to 4- pounder guns.
Noon. Moderate & fine.
Bearings & Distance. Tents at Timber Station SW ½ W 2 miles.
Castle Island N/E ½ E.
Standing off and on running along the land, working up for anchorage in Mercury Bay. Hove to.
pm Light Breezes & fine.
2 pm Schooner in sight. Tacked as requisite.
1:45 pm Gig & Cutter returned on board bringing Jackey Worrrie, a Chief , and 2 natives. Up boats & made sail on Starboard tack.
4 pm Light breezes & fine. Castle Is. N 2 miles. Trimmed occasionally, running along the land. Ranged cables.
6 p.m. Ditto weather. Hauling in for Mercury Bay. Light variable winds.
7:30 pm Taken aback. Braced round on Larboard tack. Middle Island Mercury Bay west 2 miles.
11:30 pm The flood tide having ceased, up course, wore ship & hove to.
Midnight. Moderate & fine.
Wednesday 22nd July. Variable winds & cloudy.
4 am Ditto weather with showers. Middle Island Mercury Bay SW.
6 am Filled & made sail on Starboard tack.
8 am Ditto weather. Set Top Gallant Sails.
Castle Island NE ½ E. Middle Island SW ½ S. Tacked as requisite.
11 am Light variable airs. Up courses & hove to.
Commander left the ship to examine an anchorage on the north side of Mercury Bay.
Noon. Calm & fine.
Bearings & distance. Middle of Island Mercury Bay SSW. Castle Island SE/S
1 pm A breeze sprung up from ESE. Commander returned.
Filled & made sail running in for Mercury Bay.
3:30 pm Shortened sail & came to with S Bower in Mercury Bay in 5 ½ fathoms.
Veered to 50 fathoms. Furled sails.
Marks: Tower rock E/N ¼ N. Mr. Brown’s Flagstaff SW ¼ South.
Perforated rock on the North side of the Bay.
6 pm Light airs & cloudy.
7:30 pm Dark & cloudy with heavy rain.
Midnight. Calm with showers.
Thursday 23rd July. Calm & showery.
3 a.m. Arrived a small coasting schooner.
4 a.m. Light airs & cloudy.
8 am Ditto weather. Landed Jackie Worra, (sic) the Chief, to get a supply of provisions for his tribe.
Tallowed the fore & after guns and struck them down the fore hold to stiffen & trim ship.
Coiled sheet cable on fore part of main deck.
Several Native Chiefs came on board from the schooner bound to the Thames.
Bearings & Distance. At single anchor. Light breezes & fine. Wind shifted to the NE. Boarded the “Flying Fish” schooner. Employed scrubbing ship’s side.
4 pm Moderate & fine. Observed a canoe in the offering firing muskets. Answered them with a gun.
7 pm Observed a vessel in the offering showing a light. Burnt a blue light and fired 2 muskets as signal to her.
8 pm Light breezes & cloudy.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Friday 24th July. Light breezes & cloudy.
4 am Ditto weather. Transported the other two guns forward on upper deck.
8 am Ditto weather. Employed holystoning decks and as requisite. Lost by accident, through the staff breaking, boat hooks.
Noon. Light breezes & fine. Employed blacking the bends & securing the guns. Carpenters getting truss cleats on mast heads.
3:30 pm Jolly boat returned with Jackey Worra the Chief, and supply of potatoes & corn for his tribe who are assisting in procuring the cargo.
Sunset. Up boats.
Midnight. Light airs & fine.
Saturday 25th July. Light breezes & cloudy.
Daylight. Employed scraping & greasing masts.
8 am Ditto weather. Weighed & made all sail. Hove to and landed party of natives who came on board to assist
Jackey Worra, the Chief.
10 am Boat returned. Up boat. Filled and made sail. Standing out of Mercury Bay. Wind shifted to SE.
Noon. Moderate & cloudy in the SE Tacked ship & stood in for the anchorage. Breeze freshening.
1:15 pm Shortened sail and came to, with S Bower in 6 ¾ fathoms in Cooks Bay, Mercury Bay.
Veered to 50 fathoms & furled sails.
Marks: Tower Rock on with a rock awash off the NE end of Cooks. Bay bearing ENE entrance off Oyster Creek SE ½ S.
Mr. Browns Flagstaff SW/W ½ W and a perforated rock on N side of Mercury Bay. Moderate with rain.
Sunday 26th July. Moderate & showery.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 am Ditto weather with passing squalls.
10 am Mustered at Divisions.
11:30 am Breeze freshening and bearing round to the eastward.
Veered to 70 fathoms & pointed the yards to the wind.
Noon. Fresh breezes & thick squally weather.
pm Ditto weather. Lost by accident, by going out of the hawser hole, stopper lanyard 3 inch 3 fathoms.
4 pm Strong breezes & thick, squally weather.
5:30 pm Let go B Bower, veered to 25 fathoms & veered out to 100 on S Bower.
6 pm Ditto weather. Ranged the Sheet cable & pinched the sheet anchor clear of the gunwale,
sent Top Gallant Yards on deck & housed the mast.
8 pm Fresh gale & thick cloudy weather with a heavy eastern swell.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Monday 27th July. Fresh gales & thick squally weather with a heavy eastern swell.
4 am Ditto weather.
8 am Ditto weather with a heavy squall. Got the Top Gallant masts on deck.
Got Jib boom in. Struck lower yards & Top masts.
Noon. Strong gales & cloudy weather and eastern swell rolling in.
pm Ditto weather. Employed variously lashing the yards & bent Forestay sail.
Shifted 3 shackles off south cable onto the Larboard one.
Veered to 40 fathoms on B Bower and 120 fathoms on S Bower & double & double bitted ditto.
4 pm Ditto weather.
6 pm Ditto weather with a heavy sea.
8 pm Ditto weather with a heavy sea rolling into the bay & hard squalls.
Divided the men into 3 watches and had an axe on deck ready to cut away sheet anchor.
Midnight. Ditto weather with continued
.
HMS Buffalo is ship wrecked this day.
Tuesday 28th July 1840.
 
am. Fresh gales & land squalls with a heavy sea.
1:30 am A heavy gust of wind observed.
The breeze parted the ring bolt of the B.B. had drawn and the stopper had carried away the ship being then brought up by the compressor,
let go sheet anchor.Veered on both cables, the ship then riding with fair strain. 6 fathoms on B.B. & 40 fathoms on the sheet anchor.
 Got new stoppers and spare ring bolts and used the messenger round the main mast as an extra stopper for sheet cable.
Hauled in the slack chain of S.B. and found that 91/3 shackles were left. Lost anchor.
Shackled the remaining pair of S.B. chain to the S. bream anchor. and hung the anchor at the larboard catted.
4 am Heavy gales with rain and a heavy sea.
Employed replacing lost stoppers and ranged the cable for stream anchor. Another heavy gust of wind, approaching to a hurricane.
About 5 am A sudden jerk on sheet cable and found it had parted.
Observed the ship driving and let go stream anchor & veered to the clinch. 70 fathoms.
The ship still driving fast. Occasionally bracing up.
5:30 am in 40 fathoms of water and gradually & gradually decreasing.
Battened down the hatches and secured the dead lights fore and aft.
Swayed the foreyard up & got ship ropes and buoys on the cables & saw all clear for stripping.
Started to turn of water and hoisted 20 caskets of provisions out of the after hold to trim ship.
A party employed pumping ship.
6:30 am Dark, thick weather, blowing a hurricane with an awful sea.
The ship struck and carried away the pintle of rudder after driving forward for 3 miles.
** Pintle: A vertical metal pin attached to leading edge of rudder.
Hoisted the distress signals and cast loose a gun, to secure it being useless and dangerous in consequence of the ships rolling so heavily.
Now 1/2 past 7 and barely daylight. The ship striking heavily & the sea beating through the dead lights and rudder coat.
Opened the spirit room and found the water within 3 feet of the hatches.
8 am Ditto weather.
8:15 am Observed a reef or sandy bar about 1 1/2 cables to sea ward. The ship still driving towards it and striking often in less than 4 fathoms water.
Braced the head yards to cast the ship to starboard and hauled aft the starboard stay sail sheet and when the wind came on the larboard bow,
 slipped the cables, filled the head sail and set main tri sail to force her over the shallow for the purpose of getting into Mercury River.
Observed pieces of keel float up alongside occasionally. While going in from a most destructive sea and no abatement whatever in the wind, but rather blowing harder.
The ship touching between the heave of every sea and the rudder being disables steering by sails.
About 9 am Past the point and kept the weather shore on board in consequences of the ebb tide running.
The wind lulling occasionally under the highland. Trimmed sails often.
9:15 am Placed the ship on shore under the land where a flagstaff erected.
Observed at this time the ebb tide 3 knots. The heavy swell rolling in caused the ships bell to ring & mast to tremble much.
 A party employed at pump and party stocking the kedge anchor.
Lowered the Cutter and got hawser coiled in there ready for use. had the ship’s Log,
Account and Muster books etc secured in a strong chest and placed on deck. The ship at this time was gradually
forging ahead but very trifling.
Observed large pieces of her keel come up alongside. Lowered all boats down, excepting the Gig, for the purpose of lightening the ship and for other use if required.
 In the course of a few minutes, a heavy gust came of the highland and payed her head off to Starboard.
** Pay off: A sailing vessels head pays off when it falls further off the direction of the wind and drops to the leeward.
Squared the head yards to let her come to, but the ebb tide running strong and the off no use and the ship full of water, worked herself off the rocky shore.
Clewed head sails and hauled down the stay sails, after head now falling off, so as to bring the wind down dead aft and her stern not being entirely clear of the ground,
we again manned the pumps and scuttled the main cabin decks in various parts.
Found in our present situation that the boats were of no further use, hauled the hawser out of the cutter for the purpose of hoisting her up.
Suddenly, a gust of wind with a considerable swell, forced the ship on the other side of the channel.
Ordered the boats to pull over on the weather shore for their safety.
The wind and sea now increasing,.
Hauled up the fore sheets, set forestay sail and main tri sail to force her on shore and keep her end on. It being a suitable part of the river for the safety of lives and property.
 The flood tide ceasing, took in the sail, the ship being now well driven on shore, inclining a little to port.
About noon, observed the two cutters and jolly boat washed on shore by the surf and out of 4 men in the boats, we observed only 2 land.
 (Seaman Charles Moore & boy, John Cornes –also known as Carnis– from Chatham Islands, drowned.) The natives assisted in hauling up the boats.
Cut away the Gig, the sea having broken her in two pieces.
Got sails occasionally over the stern to prevent the water rushing in, but not withstanding, from very heavy seas striking her were of no use.
The stern by now nearly broken in above the Gun Room.
Midnight.
Ditto weather. The sea striking the ship very heavily.
Wednesday 29th July.
am Heavy gales with continued rain, the surf striking the ship heavily against the stern
and at this time the Captain’s cabin bulk heads were cleared fore and aft and the Gun Room on the weather side.
1:45 am Heavy rain and lull in the wind, shifted to the southward.
4 am Moderate with heavy rain, the surf striking the ship as above.
daylight. Observed the natives rendering their assistance in preserving
various parts of the wreck which floated on shore.
8 am More moderate. People employed preparing to land and launched the lower yards overboard.
Noon. light breeze & cloudy.
The surf striking violently against the stern.
Observed a great quantity of sand had been washed thro the stern on main deck.
pm. Ditto weather.
A native swam on shore with a rope and made fast.
Landed the ship’s company, hammocks and bags.
The natives launched the cutter and came off with the two men that was landed yesterday.
Landed the Gunner and 23 men with provisions and the Clerk with the ship’s books and accounts etc.
4 pm Ditto weather.
The surf rising with the flood tide.
Ceased landing, leaving on board the Commander (James Wood) Mr. Cheeseman and 17 men.
Midnight. Ditto weather. Ship water logged.
 
Thursday 30th July . Moderate with a heavy surf.
4 am Light breeze and cloudy.
Daylight. Landed various stores and provisions as they came to hand.
8 am Ditto weather. Employed as above.
Noon. Ditto weather. Observed starboard bilge stove in.
pm. Employed getting out provisions etc.
4 pm Cut the main mast and foremast away to ease the ship and prevent her bilging.
6 pm Ditto weather.
8 pm Ditto weather.
Midnight. Light breeze and fine.
 
Friday 31st July. Light breeze and fine with moderate surf.
4 am Ditto weather.
Daylight. Employed variously landing provisions and placing them in a
private store, under the care of Captain Stewart.
Hired the “Flying Fish,” Schooner to bring the party from the forest to assist in clearing up the wreck.
Noon. Schooner sailed.
pm Fine weather. Commander sounding about stern of ship. Employed as am.
Midnight. Light breeze and cloudy with moderate surf.
 
Saturday 1st. August. Ditto weather and cloudy.
Daylight. Landed barter stores and provisions under the care of Captain Stewart,
in a private store and Marine Sentential.
Noon. The wind variable and inclining to the northward.
The water above the main deck at high water.
pm Fresh breezes and squally showery weather. Employed as above.
4 pm Ditto weather with a moderate surf.
6 pm More moderate and variable weather.
8 pm Light breezes and showery.
Midnight. Squally, rainy weather.
Sunday 2nd August. Moderate with occasional squalls.
4 am More moderate. Employed as yesterday landing various stores and a few
casks of provisions as far as the tide would permit.
Observed the Schooner in the offering.
pm. Fresh breezes and showery. Employed as am
4 pm Ditto weather. Mr. Paul, the two Purveyors and the party, arrived on board
in the Pinnace, having left the schooner in the offering and an Officer, Sergeant
and 3 Sentential to protect the property in the forest.
6 pm Ditto weather. Moored barge in river.
Midnight. Light breeze and cloudy.
 
Monday 3rd August. Strong breeze with showers at times.
Sent Mr. Paul and the timber party to land on the opposite side of the wreck and cover a store of Mr. Brown’s for them to live in.
Employed sending sundry stores from the wreck to that place.
Noon. Strong breeze and fine.
pm Employed as above.
4 pm Ditto weather The Commander sent messenger to Coromandel harbour, with a letter.
Tuesday 4th August. Party employed at Mr. Brown’s store, stowing and receiving provisions and a party
on board sending provisions and creeping for them.
Noon. Fine weather.
pm Employed as above. The Commander and the remainder of the crew
finally landed to live on shore, the same side as the wreck of the ship.
Midnight. Moderate, with rain at times.
Wednesday 5th August.
People employed at doubling and arranging their tents.
Noon. Moderate and fine.
pm Employed storing stores at Mr. Brown’s store.
Midnight. Moderate and fine.
Thursday 6th August.
 
8 am A Barque in sight, working up the Bay.
A party on board the ship, creeping up the Spirits etc out of the Spirit room.
Mr. Paul sent 2nd Master, Messrs. Laslett and Barnaby Purveyors,
and John Perkins Senior Carpenter’s Mate, surveying the ship.
A party on shore cutting up the masts to clear the remains of the rigging and digging
up the remains of the Hemp cable, buried in the sand.
2 pm The barque “Bolina,” arrived from Coromandel Harbour. (Owner: Ben Boyd of New South Wales.)
Mr. Webster, owner and timber merchant at that place, visited the Commander.
Midnight. Moderate and fine.
Friday 7th August.
 
A party on board the ship employed as yesterday and a party on shore employed also.
The Barque Bolina working onto the river. Sent a party to assist her.
Noon. Moderate and fine. Sent Mr. Cheeseman (2nd master) to the Bay of Islands in the Flying Fish schooner.
Lent William Booth and Mr. Dunn to assist in working her.
Midnight. Moderate and fine.

Left: A reproduction of the original figurehead, by Rick Swain,
is on H.M.S. Buffalo, at Glenelg, Adelaide, Australia.
This magnificent, full sized replica of H.M.S. Buffalo, is used as restaurant.
Courtesy of the Mercury Bay Museum, New Zealand.

 

Saturday 8th August.
A party on board the Bolina heading her into the river.
Parties employed as yesterday. Also getting the planking off the lower deck
to floor and store at Mr. Brown’s for the people to live in.
Noon. Moderate and fine. The Barque moored in her proper place.
pm. Employed as above.
Midnight. Moderate and light rain.
Sunday 9th August. Moderate with light rain
8 am Fresh breezes and rainy
10 am Mustered and performed Divine service. Read the Articles of War.
The surf breaking against the ship.
Noon Ditto weather
Midnight. Fresh breezes with much rain.
 
Monday 10th August. Fresh breezes with much rain.
Carpenters employed flooring a store as above
Surf breaking heavily against the ship. Prevents communications for work.
Noon. Fresh breezes and heavy rain.
pm Ditto weather.
Employed as above.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Tuesday 11th August. Ditto Weather.
Carpenter employed as yesterday. Heavy surf against the ship prevents getting onboard.
Sent Mr. Paul, two Purveyors and sent carpenters mate to survey the Barque Bolina.
Now strong breezes and heavy rain.
pm Ditto weather. Employed as above.
Midnight. Now moderate with showers of rain.
Wednesday 12th August. Moderate with passing showers.
People employed on the beach stripping the wrecks of the mast`& there being too much surf to get alongside the ship,
carpenters repairing the second cutter, which was stove when washed onshore in the gale.
Noon. Moderate and fine.
pm Employed as above.
Midnight. Moderate and fine.
Thursday 13th August. Moderate and fine.
Less surf alongside the ship. People went on board to work, but o the tide's falling,
it began to break heavily and were obliged to leave it.
A party on the beach stripping masts.
Noon. Moderate and fine.
pm Ditto weather. Employed as above.
Arrived H. M. Revenue Cutter, Ranger sent here by His Excellency the
Lieutenant Governor to assist.
8:20 pm Sailed with Mr. Paul on board to go to timber station to bring away the
remains of the party and stores.
Midnight. Light airs and fine.
Friday 14th August. Light airs and fine.
People at work onboard employed getting the hemp cable messenger and
onshore sundry stores and clearing the wreck. Carpenters cutting a hole in the
starboard side to get at the after hold and Spirit Room.
Noon. Moderate and fine.
pm Employed as above.
Midnight. Moderate and fine.
Saturday 15th August. Moderate with rain.
People employed creeping provisions up and landing them at the stores.
** Creeper: Another name for the small four hooked grapnel used to recover articles dropped on the sea bed by dragging for them.
Revenue cutter in sight, working up.
Noon Fresh breezes and fine.
pm. Ditto weather. Employed as above. Arrived the Revenue cutter with party and stores from forest.
Midnight. Fresh breezes and fine.
Sunday 16th August. Fresh breezes and fine.
The party living at Mr. Brown's store, building a tent and shifting to the opposite of water,
the remained mustered and served with slops.
Noon. Ditto weather.
pm Ditto weather.
Midnight. Fresh breezes and rainy.
Monday 17th August. Fresh breezes and rainy.
The ebb tide running out and blowing very hard prevents getting on board the ship to work.
A party employed clearing the Ranger Revenue cutter of the stores from the forest.
Noon. Ditto weather.
pm Employed as above.
Midnight. Rain at times.
 
Tuesday 18th August. Rain at times.
Issued slops to the remainder of the ship's company.
**Slops: Ready-made clothing issued to seamen on re payment against their pay.
Noon. Fresh breezes with passing showers.
Carpenters employed on board ship, slipping off the poop for laying a deck in the Bolina. Scuttled the deck over the magazine and got a great quantity of powder out.
( But all bad.) Also got at some of the tanks. The schooner in sight working up.
Midnight. Fresh breezes and rainy at times.
 
Wednesday 19th August. Fresh breezes and cloudy.
Employed landing the powder and sundry boats and carpenters stores. Employed as yesterday.
Arrived the “Flying Fish” (Schooner) with Mr. Cheeseman from the Bay of Islands.
pm Ditto weather.
The people on board employed creeping up provisions. The Gunner and a party at the store examining powder.
Sailed the Ranger (R..C..) for the Bay of Islands with stores from the wreck.
Midnight. Fresh breezes and squally.
Thursday 20th August. Fresh breezes with squally and rain.
Employed sending provisions, powder, tanks and sundry stores from the wreck to the stores.
Noon. Strong breezes and squally.
pm Could not work at the hold of the wreck, the tide being too high.
A party employed loading the Flying Fish (Schooner) with sundry stores for the Bay of Islands.
Midnight. Fresh breezes with passing showers.
Friday 21st August. Fresh breezes with passing showers.
People on board the wreck and crept up some provisions, tanks and guns. Employed landing them at the store.
A party loading the schooner as above. Carpenters cutting a scuttle in the Starboard Bow to get at the coal hole.
pm Employed as above. Landed the fire hearths.
Found on the beach, about 15 feet of the after part of the main keel with a piece of the
Starboard Garboard strake attached to it.
** Garboard Srake: The first plank on the outer hull of a wooden vessel next to the keel. It runs from stem to sternpost.
Midnight. Light airs and fine.
Saturday 22nd August. Light airs and fine.
Employed getting up tanks. Carpenters cutting a hole in the starboard bow to get at stores.
A party loading the schooner.
Noon. Light breezes and fine.
pm Employed landing tanks, plank and sundry stores.
Crept up today, found them all much covered with sand.
Midnight. Cloudy with showers at times.
 
Sunday 23rd August. Ditto weather.
Daylight. Sailed the Flying Fish schooner for the Bay of Islands.
Sent Mr. Bowen (2nd Mate) and William Booth seaman, in above.
10 am Mustered and read the Articles of War.
Noon. Fresh breezes and fine.
pm. Ditto weather.
Midnight. Ditto weather with passing showers.
 
Monday 24th August. Fresh breezes and squally with passing showers.
People employed on board creeping up provisions, stores and planks and landing them.
Carpenters clearing away the forecastle deck for getting out the Bowsprit.
Noon. Fresh breezes and squally.
pm Ditto weather. Employed as above.
Midnight. Fresh breezes with squalls of rain.
Tuesday 25th August. Fresh breezes with rain at times.
Employed sending plank on shore and getting up some tanks and a party digging up
and clearing rigging on the beach.
Noon. Fresh breezes with passing showers.
pm Employed landing the tanks.
Got the Bowsprit overboard and landed it, and sundry other stores.
Sent Mr. Smith (Gunner) with 8 men and a cutter, in the Bolina, to Cooks Bay to sweep and look for the anchor parted from in the gale.
Midnight. Squally with showers.
Wednesday 26th August. Squally with showers.
A party employed on the beach as yesterday, one also on board creeping up tanks.
Carpenters repairing boats and preparing planks for fitting up the Bolina and ripping
up the forecastle decks of the ship.
Noon. Moderate and fine.
pm Ditto weather.
Employed as above and landing tanks. A schooner in sight, working up the bay.
Midnight. Moderate with passing showers.
Thursday 27th August. Moderate with showers occasionally.
A party employed on the beach as yesterday. People landing plank etc from the ship.
Carpenters repairing Jolly Boat and as yesterday.
Noon. Fresh breezes and fine.
pm Employed as above.
Midnight. Moderate and fine.
Friday 28th August. Moderate and fine.
Sent the Pinnace with a party to assist the Barque, weighing the anchor.
People employed on the wreck and on shore, as yesterday.
Landed the pumps, water closets and cisterns.
Noon. Moderate and fine.
pm Ditto weather.
Pinnace returned, the Barque having recovered the two Bower anchors with part of the chain.
Midnight. Moderate and fine.
Saturday 29th August. Moderate and fine with occasional showers.
A party on board the wreck, and a party on shore cleaning tanks.
Party on board the Barque employed as above. A fresh breeze from the N.E.
Noon. Strong breezes and squally, with heavy rain.
The Barque having come into the river having recovered the two bowers and sheet anchors.
Midnight. Strong breeze and squally, with much rain.
 
Sunday 30th August. Strong breezes and squally with rain.
10 am Mustered ship's company.
Noon. More moderate and cloudy.
Midnight. Moderate with rain at times.
 
Monday 31st August. Moderate with rain at times.
A party in the Pinnacle and 1st Cutter sweeping for the stream anchor, lost in the gale.
People cleaning and white washing tanks on Mr. Brown's wharf, and a party discharging the ballast from the Bolina preparatory to receiving the stores.
Carpenters on board laying deck and preparing plank for the same purpose on shore.
Noon. Fresh breezes and cloudy.
pm Employed as above. The boats left, not being able to find the anchor.
Midnight. Squally.
 
Tuesday 1st September. Squally with showers of rain.
Party employed as yesterday, jagging up old running gear.
Noon. Moderate with occasional showers.
pm Employed as above.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Wednesday 2nd September. Moderate and cloudy.
Employed stowing tanks etc. chain cables an board the Bolina.
Painter and carpenters employed as above.
Noon. Fresh breezes and fine.
pm Ditto weather. Employed as above.
Midnight. Light breezes and cloudy.
Thursday 3rd September. Light breezes and cloudy.
Employed transporting and stowing stores on board the Bolina.
Parties and carpenters employed as above and repairing the 1st Cutter.
Noon. Fresh breezes and fine.
pm Ditto weather. Employed as above.
Midnight. Strong breezes and squally with heavy rain.
Friday 4th September. Strong breezes and squally with heavy rain.
People employed as yesterday and transporting provisions and Rum and stowing them away.
Noon. Fresh breezes and squally.
pm Ditto weather. Employed as above.
Midnight. Squally with rain.
 
Saturday 5th September. Squally weather.
Employed storing provisions and sundry, Boatswain and Carpenter's stores on board Bolina.
Carpenters employed as before.
11 am Arrived, the Coromandel Schooner from the southwards.
Noon. Moderate and fine.
pm Employed as above.
Midnight. Moderate and fine.
 
Sunday 6th September. Moderate and fine.
8 am Clam and fine.
10 am Mustered ship's company.
Noon. Moderate breezes and fine.
pm. Ditto weather.
6 pm Mr. Paul placed Mr. Russell (assistant Surgeon) under an arrest for
treating him with disrespect and calling him a bloody (2nd master.)
Midnight. Light breezes and fine.
 
Monday 7th September. Moderate breezes and fine.
8 am Calm and fine. People employed transporting stores etc on board the Bolina.
Carpenters employed as before. A party sawing up ends of masts for firewood.
Noon. Moderate breezes and fine.
pm Employed as above.
Midnight. Light breezes and fine.
 
Tuesday 8th September. Moderate and fine. People employed transporting stores etc
on board the Bolina and sawing up ends of masts for firewood and as yesterday.
Noon. Ditto weather.
pm Ditto weather. Employed as above.
Midnight. Light winds and cloudy.
Wednesday 9th September. Light winds and cloudy.
Employed filling water and getting provisions, firewood on board Bolina.
Noon. Light winds with rain.
pm Ditto weather. Employed as above and as most requisite.
Sunset. Heavy rain.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Thursday 10th September. Heavy rain.
8 am Cloudy weather with passing showers.
Employed watering and getting firewood on board. Carpenters employed as before.
Noon. Ditto weather.
pm. Ditto weather. Employed as before.
Sunset. Showers of rain.
Midnight. Fresh breezes and squally.
Friday 11th September. Fresh breezes and squally.
8 am Moderate and cloudy. Employed getting in water, getting firewood and coals on board.
Carpenters employed as before and making supporters over the second deck to hold the Cutters.
Sailed the Coromandel, complete water with 18 tons.
Noon. Cloudy weather. Issued 1 lb of flour per man per day in lieu of bread.
Midnight. Moderate with heavy rain.
Saturday 12th September. Moderate with heavy rain.
4 am Strong breezes and squally with rain. People employed variously.
Noon. Showers of rain.
pm Ditto weather. Employed as above.
Midnight. Moderate and fine.
Sunday 13th September. Moderate and fine.
8 am Calm and fine.
10 am Mustered ship's company.
Noon. Light breezes and fine.
pm Ditto weather. Carpenters employed preparing Pinnace and Cutter's gear,
and masts to go to the southward to the forest.
8 am Sent Mr. Paul with 20 men, in the Pinnace and Cutter, to bring away the
old sails which form the men's tents.
Midnight. Calm and fine.
Monday 14th September. Calm and fine.
8 am Ditto weather. A party taking sails on board the Bolina and a party also employed
hauling the spars (saved) up at Mr. Brown's store. Carpenters employed as before.
Noon. Moderate and fine.
pm Ditto weather. Employed as above.
5 pm. Mr. Paul returned with his party, sails etc.
Midnight. Moderately cloudy.
Tuesday 15th September. Moderate and cloudy.
Employed transporting sundries on board. Carpenters employed as requisite.
Noon. Variable, rainy weather at times.
pm Ditto weather. Employed as above.
8 pm Heavy rain, thunder and vivid lightening.
Midnight. Ditto weather.
Wednesday 16th September. Rain, with thunder and lightening.
8 am Moderate and cloudy. People employed scrubbing hammocks and washing clothes.
Noon. Fresh breezes and cloudy with passing showers.
pm Ditto weather. Employed as above.
Midnight. Moderate and cloudy.
Thursday 17th September. Moderate and cloudy.
8 am Moderate and fine. Employed taking the seamen's chests on board etc.
Noon. Moderate and fine.
pm Ditto weather. Employed as above.
Midnight. Moderate and fine.
Friday 18th September. Moderate and fine.
Employed taking hammocks and bags on board, pulling down the tents and making up sails etc.
Noon. Moderate and fine. Employed as above.
pm. Employed as above.
Midnight. Heavy rain.
 
Saturday 19th September. Heavy rain.
8 am Moderate and cloudy. Employed getting all the spars, sending some on
board and hauling others up at Mr. Brown's pound.
Noon. Fresh breezes with passing showers.
pm Ditto weather. Employed making up the remaining tents in spare sails. Hoisted in the Cutters and spare sails and stowed them on the skids and prepared for sea.
Midnight. Moderate and cloudy.
 
Sunday 20th September. Moderate and cloudy.
8 am Fresh breezes and cloudy. Got the cooking utensils on board and ready
cooked meat for ship's company. Unmoored ship and in Boats.
10 am Mr. Stewart (Pilot) came on board and took charge of the ship.
 
Weighed and made sail out of the harbour.
11 am Pilot left the ship.
Noon. Moderate and fine. Pinnace in tow.
pm Ditto weather. Put ship's company into three watches.
Midnight. Moderate and fine.
 
Monday 21st September. Moderate and fine.
4 am Ditto weather.
Daylight. Observed the Poor Knights, bearing south.
8 am Cape Brett west, 15 miles.
Noon. Moderate and fine.
pm. Ditto weather. Tacked occasionally, working to wind-wards.
Midnight. Light breezes and fine.
 
Tuesday 22nd September. Light breezes and fine. Tacked occasionally.
4 am Cape Brett South east by east 5 or 6 miles.
8 am Ditto weather.
Noon. Moderate and fine. Nine Pin rock west by north 3 or 4 miles. Working up the Bay of Islands.
5 pm Sheeved north to the Favourite.
6:30 pm. Anchored off Kororaki Point in 8 fathoms.
Midnight. Light winds and fine.
 
Wednesday 23rd September. Light winds and fine.
8 am Calm and fine. Anchored H.M.S. Ranger Cutter.
10:30 am A breeze from the South east. Weighed and made sail, standing up the Bay.
Passed HMS Favourite att anchor in Koreroraka Bay.
11:30 am Shortened sail and anchored off the Governor's residence.
Noon. Ditto weather. Arrived the Britomart.
Midnight. Moderate and cloudy.
Thursday 24th September. Moderate and cloudy.
8 am Ditto weather. People employed sweeping for the Barque’s anchor lost yesterday.
Noon. Ditto weather.
pm Ditto weather. Employed as above.
Midnight. Moderate with rain.
Friday 25th September. Squally with rain.
8 am Ditto weather.
Noon. Rainy weather.
pm Ditto weather.
Midnight. Variable winds and cloudy.
Saturday 26th September. Ditto weather. Loosed sails. Employed sweeping for the anchor.
Received 200 pounds of fresh meat from the Colonial stores.
pm Moderate and fine. Found the anchor.
Midnight. Light breezes and fine.
Sunday 27th September. Light breezes and fine.
8 am Ditto weather.
10 am Mustered by Divisions.
Noon. Light airs and fine.
pm Ditto weather.
Midnight. Calm and fine.
Monday 28th September. Calm and fine. Employed landing stores saved from the wreck,
preparatory to being surveyed at the Government wharfs.
Noon. Light winds and fine.
pm Ditto weather. Employed as above.
Midnight. Light airs and fine.
 
Tuesday 29th September. Light airs and fine. Employed landing stores.
Noon. Moderate and fine.
pm Ditto weather.
Midnight. Calm and fine.
Wednesday 30th September. Calm and fine.
Employed landing stores etc. Surveying Officers employed examining them and provisions on board.
Noon. Light breezes and fine.
pm Ditto weather. Employed as above.
Midnight. Light breezes and fine.
 
Signed J Wood Master late Buffalo.
[Actual Signature from ship’s Log.] 

Part 1

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