6 



Baillie. — The First New Zealand Navy. 33 



compartments. The boilers were placed 54 ft. forward of the engines for the 

 purpose of keeping the vessel on an even keel." . The Empire of the 15th 

 September further reports, " On the vessel's trial trip her speed was tested 

 from Fort Denison to Bradley's Heads, a distance of 1 mile and 150 yards 

 A smart N.E. breeze prevailed, but with this disadvantage the distance 

 was run down in 8 minutes 12 seconds, and up in 6 minutes 53 seconds, 

 giving a speed of nearly 9 knots, with 32 revolutions per minute, with 

 6u lb. on pressure of gauge, and a very small consumption of coal. Her 

 speed exceeded the builder's expectations by one mile per hour. She 

 is fitted with two sliding keels — one forward, one aft. The officers' cabins 

 are situated aft, and the soldiers' apartments forward ; they are .very large 

 and lofty. She has a flush deck, on which are placed two cupolas, 12 ft. 

 in diameter and 8 ft. high, each pierced for rifles and 24-pounder howitzers. 

 The commander's station was in a turret above the engine-room, which 

 was also shot-proof and placed aft." She was provided with space for the 

 storage of 20 tons of coal, and it is interesting to note that while on the 

 Waikato she used local coal, being the first steamer to do so. The Hon. 

 (later Sir) Francis Dillon Bell, a member of the Ministry, represented the 

 New Zealand Government on the occasion of the " Pioneer's " trial. For 

 the trip to New Zealand the stern wheel was removed, and three masts 

 provided to carry sail. The cost of construction was £9,500. 



After shipping a supply of ammunition, consisting of 60 cases shot and 

 shell, 600 cartridges for 24-pounders, 1,000 tubes, 10,000 Terry's rifle 

 cartridges, 12,000 caps, and 18,000 revolver-cartridges, the " Pioneer," 

 in tow of H.M.S. " Eclipse," left Sydney on the 22nd September, reaching 

 Onehunga on the 3rd October, after a rough trip. The officers attached 

 to the vessel for the trip were Lieutenant G. R. Breton, late of H.M.S. 

 "Iris"; Lieutenant O'Callaghan, H.M.S. "Miranda"; and Mr. Jeffrey, 

 engineer; with a crew of twenty-five men. On the 24th October the 

 '" Pioneer," with two companies of seamen from H.M.S. " Curacoa," was 

 towed by H.M.S. " Eclipse " to the Waikato. At the same time the four 

 armoured barges, or gunboats, were also taken to the river. While on 

 active service each of the gunboats was in charge of an officer from 

 H.M.S. " Curacoa." I am informed by Admiral Hammick (then a sub- 

 lieutenant), who was in charge of one, which was named the "Ant," that 

 one was commanded by Midshipman C. S. Hunt, who had been saved from 

 H.M.S. " Orpheus " when that vessel was wrecked on the Manukau bar ; 

 another was in charge of Midshipman F. Hudson. The fourth, which 

 was named the " Midge," was commanded by Midshipman Foljambe. 

 Mr. Foljambe in his Three Years on the Australian Station (1868) tells us 

 that the boat was armed with a 12-pounder gun and a 4" 4 in. brass Cohorn 

 mortar, and carried a complement of seven men. These boats were used 

 in the different operations on the Waikato and its branches, and also in 

 carrying stores. Mr. Foljambe was the father of the late Governor-General 

 of New Zealand, Lord Liverpool. 



On the 29th October the "Pioneer," piloted by Mr. Chandeler, and 

 flying the broad pennant of Commodore Sir William Wiseman (" Curacoa "), 

 after landing at Whangamarino, which commanded the Maori position at 

 Meremere, two 40-pounder Armstrong guns, brought by the " Curacoa " 

 from Sydney, conveyed Lieut. -General Cameron, commander of the troops 

 in New Zealand, on a reconnaissance. (Plate V, fig. 2.) Shots were 

 exchanged, but no damage was sustained by the vessel, which returned 

 to headquarters. On the 31st October the " Pioneer " again proceeded 

 up the river as far as Rangiriri, the Maori stronghold. A spot about six 

 2— Trans. 



