Wreck Of Boyd Found

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31726, 9 July 1968, Page 10

Wreck Of Boyd Found

(N.Z. Prest Association) AUCKLAND, July 7. A discovery which is linked with one of the worst massacres in New Zealand’s history was made in Whangaroa Harbour last Sunday. Two divers groping under 12 feet of water on the muddy bottom of the harbour discovered the charred hull of the brig Boyd, almost all of whose 70 crew and passengers were killed and eaten by Maoris in 1809. Mr W. T. Doak, of Whangarei, and Mr K. Tarlton, of Auckland, the men involved, are planning to excavate the hull lining heavy pumps to remove the tons of mud at present holding it fast on the harbour bottom. Last year Mr Doak and Mr Tarlton were two of the key figures in recovering gold and silver bullion from the wreck of the Elingamite. Series Of Descents

Mr Doak, a magazine publisher as well as a diver, said yesterday that he and Mr

Tarlton, a full-time diver, had made a series of descents into the muddy currents of the Whangaroa inlet with the help of local fishermen. Earlier they had spoken to local residents to glean as much information as possible about the Boyd.

“All we found at the start of our searches in the water were a series of tree trunks and snags," said Mr Doak. "Because of the unfavourable conditions, mud and poor visibility underwater, we almost gave up. Then Kelvin (Mr Tarlton) bumped into what appeared to be oystercovered rock.” On closer examination this proved to be the coppersbeathed timbers of the Boyd. Samples of the fire-black-ened teak were raised to the surface. Coal, Copper Copper bolts two centuries old still had marks made by the shipwright’s hammer, and coral-encrusted coal, a massive copper stanchion-like fitting, and thin eroded sheets of copper were sufficient to prove the identity of the wreck to historians. Mr Doak said the Auckland Museum had offered technical

assistance with the preservation of timbers and metal objects. It was necessary to chemically treat timbers that had been lying in the water for a long time to prevent them from cracking and deteriorating on reaching the air.

He said that when work bebegan he and Mr Tarlton would be helped by volunteer divers.