Ulitea (1829 ship)

Ulitea was a schooner that John Hunter built in late 1829 or early 1830 in the Society Islands (Tahiti). She primarily traded between Sydney and Tahiti, but also sailed to Valparaiso and New Zealand. She was wrecked in New Zealand in February 1840.

History
Society Islands
Name: Ulitea[Note 1]
Namesake: 19th century British name for Raiatea
Owner: John Hunter
Builder: John Hunter,[2] Tahiti
Launched: c.1829
Fate: Wrecked 29 February 1840
General characteristics
Tons burthen: 70, or 75 (bm)
Sail plan: Schooner

Career

The first mention of Ulitea in the Sydney newspapers occurred in December 1832.

On 19 December 1832, the schooner Ulitea, Hunter, master, arrived at Sydney from Tahiti. She had left on 6 November and was carrying 18 casks of "cocoa-nut oil". Her passengers included Mrs. Hunter and seven children, Captain Buckle, late master of the ship Matthews, which had wrecked at Tahiti, Mr. Robson late owner of Schnapper, which the natives had taken near Tahiti, and some others.[3] Ulitea also brought the information that the whaler Pocklington had touched at Eoora, Tonga.[4]

On 17 August 1833 Ulitea, Captain Hunter, arrived at Sydney from Raitea with 22 tuns of whale oil and the lower rigging from Sir Charles Price,[5] which had wrecked in April at Huahine in the Society Islands.

On 18 January 1839 Ulitea, Captain Waddy, sailed for the Society Islands, with sundries. Her only passenger was Captain Hunter, her owner.[6]

Fate

Ulitea was wrecked on the night of 29 February 1840 east of Sulphur Point in Tauranga Harbour. The captain cut away the masts during the night and hoisted a shirt to the bowsprit as a distress signal. A Mr Wilson, together with Maori from the Mission Station, took a boat out and brought all aboard on ashore.[1] Newspaper reports in Australia, and then England and India, incorrectly reported that she had been lost with all aboard.

Notes, citations, and references

Notes

  1. A transcription error has resulted in some accounts recording her name as Mitea.[1]

Citations

  1. Matheson (1997), p. 77.
  2. "Shipping" Australian 17 March 1830 p.2.
  3. Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 20 December 1832 P.2 "Shipping Intelligence".
  4. Sydney Herald 20 December 1832 P.3, "DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE".
  5. "Shipping Intelligence" Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 20 August 1833, Page 2.
  6. Commercial Journal and Advertiser 19 January 1839, p.2. "SHIP NEWS".

References

  • Matheson, Alistair (1997) BAY OF PLENTY SHIPWRECKS: CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS", Historical Review, Vol.47, No.2, pp.77-81.
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