Hocken. — On the Derelict Ship in Dusky Bay. 427 



and left by the sealing party three years before, proved now a 

 godsend. They finished it, and appropriately christened it the 

 Providence. Crowded with as many people as possible, the 

 Providence and Fancy sailed for Norfolk Island, arriving there 

 in safety. Those left behind were to follow in a little vessel to 

 be constructed out of the Endeavour's long-boat. This waif of 

 the sea, then, which was named the Assistance, arrived later on 

 at Port Jackson in a sad plight. The last mouthful of provi- 

 sions had been consumed a day or two before her arrival. 

 Indeed the scarcity of provisions had necessitated leaving several 

 people behind at Dusky Bay, where it was presumed they would 

 not starve on seals, fish, and native birds. For six months 

 these unfortunates, thirty-five in number, remained in their 

 desolate solitude, when they were released by the Captain of the 

 American vessel Mercury, who landed them at Norfolk Island. 

 There were no facilities for sending earlier assistance, and the 

 captain of the Mercury stipulated with the Governor, who 

 sought his services, that as a return he should be allowed to 

 take from the wreck any stores he might be in want of. 



Such is the conclusion of this interesting story ; and I think 

 there can now be no doubt that the enigma is satisfactorily 

 solved, and that this derelict ship of Facile Harbour is none 

 other than the Endeavour, which was bound from Port Jackson 

 to India, and that here has she lain for the last 93 years. 



These interesting particulars have been gathered chiefly from 

 the valuable journal of Mr. Collins, first Judge-Advocate and 

 Secretary of the colony, published in London in 1798. It is 

 not unlikely that the publication of this account may bring 

 forth further information relative to the very earliest visits of 

 civilised man to New Zealand, dating from Captain Cook ; and 

 with this view I have been careful to give exact dates. At the 

 time referred to there were no newspapers in Sydney ; but it is 

 very likely that those published in India contain many references 

 to New Zealand. 



The following note, which bears on this question, has been 

 supplied by Captain Fairchild, being an extract from a letter 

 from Mr. Percy Smith, Assistant- Surveyor -General for the 

 Colony : — 



" Judge's Bay, Auckland, 



" March 1, 1888. 

 " My Dear Captain Fairchild, — 



" I have just come across a little item of the history of New 

 Zealand which will, I think, interest you. 



" ' In 1803 the brig Venus, commanded by Mr. Bass, was at 

 Port Jackson, and he there writes to Mr. Waterhouse at Hobart, 

 notifying his intended voyage to the coast of South America, 



