HMS Pioneer, used in the Maori wars NZ 1863-65

[Dai Powell]

Hi there Folks,
In talk with PJ I happened to mention that I was
researching a stern wheeler Gunboat named "HMS Pioneer" I have some
details ex the Museum of Wellington, City and sea. I also have from
the same source a rather indistinct copy of an engraving from the
London Illustrated of the period. Paul suggested that I ask Derek
Warner, who seems to be our local "Guru" for these things in "OZ" so
here goes:- Hi Derek I don't know what part of "OZ" you reside in but
you are a lot closer to the action than I am currently, in fact you
are a lot closer than I was when I lived in "OZ" ( I lived in 'north
Yunderup, near Mandurah, on the Western Australian Murray river, not
quite as big as the "real Murray") anyhow Derek what I need is a set
of lines for this boat she was built in 1863 at Sydney by Australian
Steam navigation company. sure hope you can help Derek.
Please reply either to me via this forum or you can E-
Mail me at daipowell@shaw.ca
Thanks ......Davo

[Derek Warner]

on Sunday, April 21, 2002 3:21 AM daipowell (David) wrote

In talk with PJ I happened to mention that I was researching a stern wheeler Gunboat named
"HMS Pioneer" I have some details ex the Museum of Wellington, City and sea. I also have from
the same source a rather indistinct copy of an engraving from the London Illustrated of the period

snip>Hi Derek I don't know what part of "OZ" you reside in, snip>anyhow what I need is a set
of lines for this boat she was built in 1863 at Sydney by Australian Steam navigation company.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Morning Dave - the only reference to the Paddle Wheeler "Pioneer" built in NSW 1870 - registered
in the UK with the official number 64348 but she is a side wheeler, not your stern wheeler

If she was commissioned & built as a naval vessel this would explain two vessels with the same
name at similar times, as the "Royal Navy" controlled all naval ship building even on our distant
shores and naval vessels & names take precedence over all other vessels names (like they would
not acknowledge that another vessel with the name Pioneer existed)

Again she may have simply been built in NSW on behalf of the British in the New Zealand colony

I looked Australian National Maritime Museum web site, but there are no search engines for ships
that I can find

Interestingly a net search on HMS Pioneer >>> will bring you to a site "How Darwin got it's Name"
then mentions HMS Pioneer and the time period is about the 1870 - so this is your HMA
Pioneer as the Admirality would not permit two HM ships to carry the same name during the same
period

Sorry, but I can't offer much more - regards Derek