New Zealand
March 1770
Admiralty Bay [in margin]
Tuesday 27th Fresh breeze of Wind Westerly & hazey Misty wear. with Drizling rain. as we have now Circumnavigated the whole of this Country it is time for me to think of quitting it, but before I do this it will be necessary to compleat our our Water first, especially as we have onboard above 30 Tons of Casks empty & knowing that there is a Bay between the above mentioned Island & Queen Charlotte's sound wherein no doubt there is Anchorage & convenient Waterg places, accordingly in the PM we hauld round the Island & into the bay leaving 3 more Islands on our Starboard hand which lay close under the West Shore 3 or 4 Miles within the Entrance. as we run in we keept the lead going & had from 40 to 12 fam. at 6 we Anchd. in 11 fam. Muddy bottom under the West Shore, In the Second Cove within the forementioned Island.
At daylight I took a Boat & went to look for a Watering Place & a proper berth to moor the Ship in both of which I found convenient enough after the Ship was moor'd I sent an Officer ashore to Superintend the Watering & the Carpenter with his Crew to cut wood while the Long bt.was employ'd carrying onshore Empty Cask ~
Wednesday 28th Winds Westerly which in the AM blow'd a fresh Gale attended with rain empld. getting onbd. Wood & Water & fishg. in the Latter we were pretty Successful.
Thursday 29th In the PM had a Strong Gale from the Westwd. AM Variable light Airs from the Eastwd. & hazey rainy wear. the whole day which however did not prevent us from getting onbd. Wood & Water ~
Friday 30th Winds at SE a modte. breeze the first & Middle part dark Hazey wear. with rain the Latter fair. in the AM as the wind seem'd to be settled at SE & having nearly compleated our Water we warped the Ship out of the Cove in order to have room to get under Sail, before this was done it was Noon at which time I went away in the Pinnace in order to examine the Bay & to Explore as much of it as the little time I had would Admit ~
Saturday 31st in the PM after rowing a League & a half or 3 Leagues up the Bay I Landed upon a point of Land on the W side where from an Eminency I could see this Western Arm of the Bay run in SWbW about 5 Leags. farther yet did not see the Head of it, their appeared to be several other inlets or at least small bays between this & the NW head of Queen Charlottes sound in every one of which I make no doubt but what there is Anchorage & Shelter for Shipping, as they are partly cover'd from the Sea winds by the Islands that lay without them; the land about this Bay, at least what I could see of it is of a very hilly uneven Surface & appears to be mostly cover'd with wood, Shrubs, Firns, &ct. which renders Travelling both