Ardersier, Inverness-shire, Scotland to Matakana – the beginning of the life and times of George Young.

September 1853

Tossed from wave crest to deepest troughs, gunwale to gunwale, awash with white foaming sea, the little cutter bound for Matakana was miles off course. The severe gale had blown her far south into the Colville Channel, and with reefed sails, she was not making any headway. The 6 passengers were sick and frightened, crew desperate for relief.

The captain holds fast to the wheel in search of a safe harbour, his only option is to run before the wind towards land to the southwest, a turn of the tiller and Port Charles Bay in his sights. Although exposed to the northerly, and little shelter Port Charles Bay at least has a sandy shore to be wrecked upon and possible lives saved.

By late afternoon with the beach well to stern, the anchor was lowered, and they rode out the storm through the night, no soul at rest with heavenly sleep.

The dawn brought disaster as they realized the perils of the close-breaking surf. The orders to weigh the anchor echoed aboard. They pitched and heaved against the wind and surf, then realized the anchor chain had broken. The cutter lurched ahead then swung to starboard, caught by a wave which lifted her high, then she tumbled into a trough, hitting hard broadside. With no sails above, she floundered and was driven onto the rocks.

Nevertheless, all survived, gathering around a fire on the beach, relieved that they were alive, but dismayed at the loss of everything. They spent the next 23 days searching for food and trying to attract rescuers. They hoisted a distress flag on a make-shift flagpole to inform passing ships of their plight; a few seen but no help came. From the timbers of the cutter, they made a small punt, sturdy enough to dash through the surf and possibly take them to civilization, or a passing vessel.

An opportunity arose on day 24 with the sighting of the "Hori Paia" as it made its way from Tauranga to Auckland with a cargo of pigs. The captain spotted the punt coming out of the surf and noticed the distress flag on the beach. He laid up the schooner and greeted the punt with an offer to take the castaways back to Auckland.

The offer however would cost each person 2 pound in advance, bringing all to a halt as all was lost. Fortunately, George Young was the only person with money, and he reluctantly paid the 16 pounds. Within a couple of days, they were all safe and sound in Auckland.

As a result of the public outcry over the extortion of castaways, several newspaper articles were published about the wreck and rescue, with George Young being most memorable for his recollection of the events and scathing criticism of the rescuers' behaviour.

Within days of arriving back in Auckland, George Young sets out again to settle on his new farm in Matakana where he would reside for the next 26 years.

This has been the first episode of George Young's Matakana life - he rests in an unmarked grave in our Cemetery and is now remembered by us.

Source:

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newsp.../NZ18531008.2.3...

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/news.../DSC18531007.2.3...

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/.../NENZC18531203.2.3.3...