Could Delayed Letter Cause Shipwreck..?
Letter to the Surveyor 1825 Robin Williams Esq, Surveyor of Ships, Auckland. Dear Sir, We are in the process of building a 60ton schooner on the foreshore at Paihia in the Bay of Islands. She is being built of timber salvaged from the three masted 432ton Brampton which was wrecked two years ago on a nearby reef. The Church Missionary Society are extremely keen to have her in the water as soon as possible as construction has been hampered by the natives who intend burning her prior to launching. She will be the first vessel to be built in New Zealand and we are naming her HERALD . This vessel will be used for trans-Tasman crossings as well as coastal voyages. We are contacting you as we believe we may be related and look forward to hearing from you regarding your availability to assist us with our project. Yours faithfully, Rev Henry Williams, Paihia. Reply from Surveyor 2018... rev.h.williams@churchmissionarysociety.co.nz Hi Re...