Francis Hayter journal of voyage in HMS Basilisk, January 1871-July 1873

MLMSS 10212/Box 1X

fonds

January 1871-July 1873

Textual Records, Clippings

9623537

Microfilm : PMB 626

0.23 metres of textual material (1 volume in outsize box) - bound manuscript - 23.5 x 20 cm.

Francis Hayter (1843-1891) was an officer in the Royal Navy. In 1858 he served on HMS Furious in Chinese waters at the end of the Opium Wars. He later served on HMS Orlando and then on HMS Liffey in 1869. He had been promoted lieutenant in 1865 and in 1871 joined HMS Basilisk as first officer. He left the navy in Sydney in 1873 with the rank of commander and settled in New Zealand.

HMS Basilisk, a wooden paddle sloop, was sent to the Australia Station in 1871 under the command of Captain John Moresby. After visiting Melbourne and Sydney Moresby was sent to New Zealand, returning to Sydney the following year. He was then ordered to Torres Strait to suppress kidnapping from South Sea islands. He returned to Sydney in April. After cruising to Norfolk Island and the South Pacific Moresby was sent to Torres Strait again. From September to December he was back in Sydney. January 1873 found the Basilisk in Torres Strait again. Moresby charted part of the New Guinea coast including Milne Bay, and discovered Fairfax Harbour and Port Moresby and named them after his father, Sir Fairfax Moresby. He returned to Sydney in July when Hayter’s journal ends.

Reference:
Library correspondence file.
Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 5, 1974

By descent

H.M.S. Journal Book, printed in columns, handwritten and unpaginated. A bound log book and journal recording Hayter’s observations aboard HMS Basilisk, 1871-1873, including details of wind, weather, course, latitude and longitude. The Journal Book is divided between a chronological ship's log printed in columns, and blank pages printed with margins for diary entries. The journal begins with the departure of HMS Basilisk from England to Australia, via Madeira and the Cape of Good Hope. From Sydney, she visited New Zealand and Torres Strait. Then, after returning to Sydney, she went to Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, the northern outliers of Tonga, Wallis and Futuna, Rotuma, the Ellice Islands, some of the outliers of the Solomons, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Torres Strait and Papua.
Newspaper clippings tipped into front pages.

Out of copyright: Author died more than 70 years ago
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales