Captain Joseph Nias to William Hobson about aiding Thomas Bunbury
On 11 March the HMS Herald left New Zealand due to William Hobson’s stroke. When it arrived in Sydney and its Captain, Joseph Nias, delivered the news to Governor George Gipps, he was anxious about the prospects of future signatures. Major Thomas Bunbury, a military officer with experience of service in many parts of the British Empire, was given the task “to assume charge of the Government” should he find “the Governor dead or incapable of performing personally the duties of his office”.
Bunbury sailed from Sydney on 5 April aboard the HMS Buffalo. With him was Mrs Eliza Hobson and 80 troops of the 80th Regiment. The HMS Herald followed, and upon its arrival on 23 April, was ready take Bunbury south to gather further signatures (this would become the Herald sheet journey).
This letter from Captain Nias of the HMS Herald acknowledges Bunbury’s task, and that he will transport him south as required.
Archives Reference: IA1 Box 2/ 1840/117
collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search#/?q=R23629623
This record is part of #Waitangi175, celebrating 175 years since the signing of of te Tiriti o Waitangi. You can see other real time tweets on Twitter (twitter.com/ArchivesNZ), or explore the Waitangi 175 album here on Flickr.
Material supplied by Archives New Zealand
Caption information from T. Lindsay Buick, 'The Treaty of Waitangi'
Captain Joseph Nias to William Hobson about aiding Thomas Bunbury
On 11 March the HMS Herald left New Zealand due to William Hobson’s stroke. When it arrived in Sydney and its Captain, Joseph Nias, delivered the news to Governor George Gipps, he was anxious about the prospects of future signatures. Major Thomas Bunbury, a military officer with experience of service in many parts of the British Empire, was given the task “to assume charge of the Government” should he find “the Governor dead or incapable of performing personally the duties of his office”.
Bunbury sailed from Sydney on 5 April aboard the HMS Buffalo. With him was Mrs Eliza Hobson and 80 troops of the 80th Regiment. The HMS Herald followed, and upon its arrival on 23 April, was ready take Bunbury south to gather further signatures (this would become the Herald sheet journey).
This letter from Captain Nias of the HMS Herald acknowledges Bunbury’s task, and that he will transport him south as required.
Archives Reference: IA1 Box 2/ 1840/117
collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search#/?q=R23629623
This record is part of #Waitangi175, celebrating 175 years since the signing of of te Tiriti o Waitangi. You can see other real time tweets on Twitter (twitter.com/ArchivesNZ), or explore the Waitangi 175 album here on Flickr.
Material supplied by Archives New Zealand
Caption information from T. Lindsay Buick, 'The Treaty of Waitangi'