Sub-Antarctic - The Unlucky Enderby Settlement Quiz

Answer: The Furious Fifties

The Auckland Islands lie at latitude 50 29' to 50 59' and are the remains of two volcanoes of the Miocene Age. The two largest islands are Auckland and Adams. The smaller land masses in the group include Disappointment Island and Enderby Island.

Answer: To provide Britain with a permanent whaling station in the Southern Ocean

The first European to come across the islands, between 1806 and 1808, was Abraham Bristow, master of the Enderby whaling company's ship 'Ocean'. With the support of the 1840 British Antarctic Expedition's Sir James Ross, a plan was drawn up to establish a settlement to advance British whaling. The Southern Whale Fishery Company was set up to carry the plan out and was granted a Royal Charter in 1849.

Though prospects for the settlement were described in glowing terms by its promoters, the colony soon failed; houses were built at Port Ross but the planned township of Hardwicke was never even built. In 1999, the then British High Commissioner to New Zealand described the settlement as being 'among the smallest, shortest-lived and most remote of all British colonies'.

(Ed. Dingwall, P.R., 'Enderby Settlement Diaries', 1999, Wellington: Wildpress & Pakuranga: Wordsell Press)

Answer: It was dismantled, taken to Sydney, and auctioned

The 14-room building, which had been constructed in England, was sold at auction in Sydney in October 1852. For some time prior to the disbanding of the colony, Charles Enderby was subject to investigation by Special Commissioners for alleged absence from post and giving erroneous information about the settlement's climate and production.

They forced him to resign as Chief Commissioner for the company and as Lieutenant Governor. Enderby threatened to shoot anyone who tried to remove him from Government House, but later backed down.

Answer: Maori and Moriori

The Maori and Moriori settlers had travelled from the Chatham Islands (800km east of New Zealand and part of New Zealand since 1842) around seven years earlier on the brig Hannah to establish a community. (Though archaeological finds on the islands suggest Polynesian travellers had visited as early as 1350AD.) The European colonists immediately claimed ownership of the islands but the two groups apparently co-existed well. Maori leaders were appointed as special constables and there was also social interaction. In November 1851 Hannah Tawerangi, daughter of Chief Koro, married Robert Bishop, a seaman off the Brisk. The marriage was solemnized by Lieutenant Governor Enderby.

The new arrivals on the 'Samuel Enderby', the 'Brisk' and the 'Fancy' also totalled about 70 people, not including the ships' crews. In addition to the Medical Officer, there was a surveyor, storekeeper, and there were clerks, carpenters, coopers and labourers. About 16 women and 14 children were amongst those who landed in late 1849 and early 1850.

Answer: His sister tried to kill him

Apparently unable to cope with life with her brother, Miss Hallett discharged a shotgun at him, missing, reloaded and shot herself in the head. She sustained serious but not fatal injuries. Enderby decided to take no action against Miss Hallett after her brother promised there would be no further trouble. Hallett was dismissed two months later and brother and sister sailed for Sydney in January 1851.

The problem of alcoholism in the colony was exacerbated by the crews of visiting ships, who lost no time in finding the settlement's makeshift pub.

Answer: There was no clergyman in the colony

For some reason the London directors failed to provide a clergyman for the settlement though they did send out 'a supply of religious and other suitable books'.
(Dingwall, P.R. et al (ed.)'Enderby Settlement Diaries', 1999 (Wellington: Wildpress & Pakuranga: Wordsell Press))

During the three years of the colony's existence, 16 births, five marriages, and four deaths (two babies and two seamen) were recorded in the 'Registrar Book of Marriages, Births and Deaths at the Auckland Islands'. Lieutenant Governor Enderby performed all five marriages.
(McLaren, Fergus B., 'The Auckland Islands: Their Eventful history', 1948, Reed: Wellington).

Answer: Sir George Grey, Governor of New Zealand

Sir George and Lady Grey stayed at Port Ross for a week, and on 4 December, in pouring rain, viewed a regatta celebrating the first anniversary of the colony's foundation. During the visit to Dunedin, the settlers discovered that the colony's own currency, used for payment of wages, was not recognised as legal tender in New Zealand.

Answer: The meat tasted odd

The feral pigs had adapted well to the available food supplies and fed on sea birds, the flesh of dead seals, and seaweed. This apparently gave the pork a strong fishy flavour.

The settlers, although nominally Anglican (Episcopalian), were not noted for their religious devotion. Despite the fact that there were few public activities in the settlement, church attendance was low and on two occasions Sunday service was called off as not a single person bothered to show up.

Answer: Poor funding, poor whaling, poor soil and climate

The settlers were taken off the islands by the HMS Calliope. As mentioned above, the Calliope's chaplain baptised several of the colonists' babies. The baptisms took place on the day the colony was abandoned (31st March 1852).

Special Commissioners Dundas and Preston insisted that Enderby accompany them to Wellington, New Zealand, to face charges of absence from post, and giving erroneous information. Enderby only agreed to go when threatened with being placed in irons. In Wellington, Enderby brought counter charges against Dundas and Preston but the Supreme Court found it had no jurisdiction in the matter. The issue was never resolved.

The last of the Maori and Moriori settlers left the Auckland Islands in 1855 or 1856 and the islands became part of New Zealand in 1863.

Answer: They were granted World Heritage status

The New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands (five island groups including the Auckland Islands) were added to the World Heritage List in 1998. The citation noted that 'the islands...have a high level of productivity, biodiversity, wildlife population densities and endemism among birds, plants and invertebrates. They are particularly notable for the large number and diversity of pelagic seabirds and penguins that nest there. There are 126 bird species in total, including 40 seabirds of which five breed nowhere else in the world.'

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/877/