Enderby Charles - The Enderby settlement: Britains whaling venture on the Subantarctic Auckland Islands, 1849-52

This account of the Enderby Settlement began as a chapter in my 1986 book on New Zealands subantarctic islands, Beyond the Roaring Forties. The book followed the National Film Unit production of the same title, which I directed. I spent several weeks on the Auckland Islands, working at all the locations of importance to the Enderby Settlement. I am grateful to the National Film Unit and the Department of Conservation for that wonderful assignment.

In 1984 we went down as a small crew on the Acheron, skippered by the late Alex Black and his wife Colleen; and again in 1985 with accompanying scientists on HMNZS Monowai with its Wasp helicopter, piloted by Lt Cdr Dave Washer, which gave me the opportunity to take and sometimes snatch! aerial shots during trial runs for filming.

Considerable research had already taken place, and a great deal more was to follow, most of it well before the huge advantage of the Internet. Of the many people who helped me, I must give special thanks to Paul Dingwall for his support and input, and to Chris Robertson, who put me on to Mackworths diary, in the first place, and then Munces diary. Both were generous in passing on information.

In New Zealand, I would like to thank Jill Goodwin, Miranda Johnson and Diane Woods of the Alexander Turnbull Library and National Library; Kate de Courcy and Robert Eruera of the Auckland Libraries Sir George Grey Special Collections; Georgia Prince of the Auckland Libraries; David McDonald and Anne Jackman of the Hocken Library; Alistair Carlile of the Auckland War Memorial Museum; Baden Norris of the Canterbury Museum; Sandra Quinn of Taupo Library; National Archives Wellington; Gareth Winter of Wairarapa Archives; and Chris Edkins of DOC for originating the maps and Good Graphic Design for amending them. Also, Kay Beets, Richard Bruce, Wilford Davis, Des Downes, Barbara Enderby, Cdr Brett Fotheringham, Pauline Goodger, Sarah Howell, (the late) Hazel Lane, Wayne Marriott, Des Price, Rhys Richards, Ken Scadden, Rowley Taylor, Dr Murray Williams and Graeme Valpy.

In Australia, I would like to thank Susan Mercer and Judy Nelson of the Mitchell Library, NSW; State Library of Tasmania Archives; and Janet Denne, Judy Tadman and (the late) Harold Munce. And in Canada, Madelene Allen. In Britain, Id like to thank David Prior of the House of Lords Reference Library (now Parliamentary Archives, Houses of Parliament); Bob Headland of Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge University; Dr Leedham-Green of Cambridge University Library; Jonathan Smith of Trinity College Cambridge; the Public Record Office, Kew (now National Archives) and Dr M.K. Banton; Dr Carol Jacobi and Edward Smith of Westminster School records; Christopher Allan of Ede & Ravenscroft; the Royal Geographical Society; Admiralty Library, Ministry of Defence; and the National Maritime Museum Greenwich; also John Enderby, Barbara Ludlow, Sir Digby Mackworth and Professor James Mackworth.

Several of the above have died in the years since my researches first began and I am sad that they are not able to appreciate the results of their involvement.

My grateful thanks go to my editor, Gillian Tewsley, whose work has been sympathetic, perceptive and thorough. I am indebted to Otago University Press former publisher Wendy Harrex, who took on this project, and her successor, Rachel Scott, who saw it through to completion. My thanks also go to the rest of the team at Otago University Press.

Finally, special thanks to my wife Jackie for her careful and perceptive reading, encouragement and suggestions made over successive drafts.

Conon Fraser

Taupo