1840 Early 1840 William Purves buys 2560 acres near Banks ...

21 Aug. Fine day, 14.2° C. at 4 p.m. The Adèle, Captain J. Walsh, leaves Peraki.
22 Aug. Captain J. Ratau sells a half-share in his Banks Peninsula title to Eugène Cafler
in the Bay of Islands. The Comte de Paris gives sail-cloth to the Aube in return
for repairs to its sails. The N.Z. Gazette and Britannia Spectator reports that Mr
Bernard, a French subject, has asked Governor Gipps about the status of N.Z.
land titles held by the non-British; that a French frigate has arrived at the Bay of
Islands and that the Britomart has sailed to Banks Peninsula to warn the French
that the territory has been proclaimed British.
23 Aug. Sunday. A Catholic Mass is held in Akaroa at 10.15 a.m. Hempleman goes to
Akaroa from Peraki. The surveying of sections being completed, they are drawn
by lots, first by the married colonists, then by the single men. Seven Germans
agree to set up in the next bay, and two other colonists decide to settle on the
hill between the two bays. The Héva leaves Port Cooper [CC5 611].
Lavaud’s dispatch: The Akaroa Maori did not sign Langlois’s 1838 deed.
French colonisation of the South Island or the Chathams is impossible.
24 Aug. Akaroa Maori sign the 12 August Pigeon Bay document and receive an
instalment of the sale price. A letter from F. Molesworth, Wellington, says that
the decision to send the Britomart to Akaroa has revived the spirits of the
British colonists.
25 Aug. The barque, Eleanor, Captain W.B. Rhodes, arrives at Akaroa. Joseph Ratau
writes to Lavaud, outlining his claim to Banks Peninsula and informing him
that J.A. Duvauchelle is going to Akaroa as his representative.
26 Aug. The Duc d’Orléans stops whaling off Port Cooper and calls into Port Cooper
itself [CC5 611]. The brig, Speculator, Captain Faher [Fisher?], arrives at
Akaroa.
27 Aug. The Britomart attempts to leave Akaroa at 10.30 a.m.
28 Aug. The Angélina ends its whaling season in Pegasus Bay [CC5 611]. The
Britomart leaves Akaroa at 6.15 a.m. Maori chiefs received on board the Aube
in the morning. Hempleman returns to Peraki from Akaroa.
29 Aug. The Britomart visits Pigeon Bay. The schooner, Success, Captain Catlin, arrives
at Peraki. The N.Z. Gazette and Britannia Spectator reports that a French
frigate and two ships, with 300 French emigrants, have arrived at Banks
Peninsula; Captain Munro of the French whaler, Cosmopolite, cautions the
Wellington public against giving credit to his crew. The N.Z. Journal hopes that
the N.Z. authorities will naturalize the French settlers and encourage them to
grow olive and vines.
30 Aug. Rain. The French whaler, Héva, Captain E. Lelièvre, arrives at Akaroa [cf. 1
Sept.]. The Britomart visits Port Levy and Port Cooper. Langlois writes to