Page from the Past

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 774, 21 September 1929, Page 33

Page from the Past

shipbuilding in far north Lane and. Brown’s History W° ” al " e is ™° re “«« shipbuilding history of New II Zealand than that of the firm of Lane and Brown which, in the latter part ot the last century, practically pioneered the industry m the .North and at one time was regarded as the outstanding shipbuilding establishment in the colony.

The. fir st vesse! built in the North W as the brigantine New Zealander, a

founders of firm

vessel of 200 tons, which was launched in 1828. She was built by Messrs. Kaine and Ramsay, and In December 0 f the same year arrived at Port Jackson with a cargo of flax and timber. Up to that time she was famed as one of the prettiest vessels that had entered Sydney harbour. The father of the founder of the firm, Lane and Brown, Mr. W. P. Brown, arrived in New Zealand In 1836 and went to the Bay of Islands. He was from Deal, on the south coast of England, and three years later was joined by a man named Gardner, also from Deal. Together they built for the early missionaries a fleet of small trading vessels which ran between the Bay of Islands and Auckland, in the trading and missionary work. These vessels, the Napy, Herald, Osprey, Agnes, Will Watch, Lady Bird. Miranda, Ringdove, Wahapu, Speedwell, Zephyr and Morning Star, some of which were schooners, and others ketches and cutters, were all built before 1868. In those far-away days the builders of vessels had to fit out the vessels they built, make their own sails and rig them, and even sail them when occasion demanded. The firm at the Bay of Islands was carried on till 1873, although in 1870 Mr. William Brown, Mr. Brown’s son, and Mr. T. M. Lane, both of whom had served their apprenticeship at Mr. W. P. Brown’s yards, founded the firm of Lane and Brown and set up business at Whangaroa. These two young men conceived the Idea of building for themselves a small schooner for the WhangaroaAuckland trade, as in those days the communication was very poor and the settlers were helpless to assist themselves. They chose Whangaroa for the founding of the firm, which later was to become so famous, because of the abundant supply of kauri in the district, easily accessible by water, and also because pohutakawa was plentiful along the shores and coast surrounding the harbour. THE FIRST VESSEL The first vessel built was the Sunbeam, registered as 17 tons. She was built on the banks of the Kaeo River, and was quite a smart little craft, which proved a success in every way. She once put up the excellent performance of 41 days for the voyage from Whangaroa to Auckland and back again, with a full load both ways. There were no steamers running in the coastal trade In those days, so that a smart regular trader was something to be desired. The next vessel built by the young firm was the schooner Alert, of 46 tons register, and first commanded by the late Captain Soloway Lane. She was eventually sold to a Lyttelton firm, and at that port won several prizes at regattas. By this time the firm became permanently established on the Northern shore of the harbour at Totara North, and was soon known throughout the .ength and breadth of New Zealand I and in the South Seas. In these early years there was little j or no machinery, and consequently !