Coastwise and Cross Seas - Circular Saw Line eras 1860 - 1886

In The New Zealand Insurance Company Limited. Bold Century. Auckland: The New Zealand Insurance Company Limited, 1959.

Coastwise and cross seas, the Circular Saw Line fleet grew from the year the brig Spencer was purchased in 1852. The New Zealand Herald wrote in 1881,attributing the first mate of the Spencer bestowing the name Circular Saw Line and it being adopted by Thomas Henderson. ( The New Zealand Herald, 21 May 1881, page 6 )

The years 1860 to 1886 saw a number of other influences upon shipping in the Pacific. The movements of troops from Australia and England in the New Zealand Wars. The continued discovery of gold including Otago, Thames and West Coast in New Zealand. Sail giving place to steam. The need for coal to propel these " new fangled " steamers. Coals from Newcastle ( literally) and the provision of coal hulks in harbours.   

New, New Zealand shipping companies ( with their fleets of steamers ) that formed and too - grew large serving coastwise and cross seas - bringing cargoes and immigrants to New Zealand and other shores so these steamers could "top up" fuel. The New Zealand Vogel Public Works Department Immigration Scheme

Illustrated Sydney News Thursday 16 March 1865 Page 8 Newcastle courtesy Trove Newspapers, National Library Australia

New,  New Zealand shipping companies ( with their fleets of steamers ) that formed and too - grew large serving coastwise and cross seas - bringing cargoes and immigrants to New Zealand and other shores. Henderson & Macfarlane, even though a merchant shipping line, were to gain a fair share of the immigrant passage. The Company's Circular Saw Flag being looked for.

1873  The New Zealand Shipping Company inaugurated at Christchurch and commenced trading with 18 ships, including those under charter.

1875 The Union Steamship Company was formed. Thomas Henderson Jnr. was later to work for this Company in 1885 as Manager  - Henderson & Macfarlane becoming agents for Union Steamship Company upon the opening of its office in Auckland.

1881 The Northern Union Steamship Company was formed out of several companies and was to become a “ lifeline” New Zealand coastwise.

Entrance to Port Jackson, Sydney, Australia - Photo CRB 2014

Coastwise Circular Saw sailed the run Auckland - Sydney; Sydney Melbourne; Melbourne Adelaide and Sydney Hobart. Growing settlement and immigration saw a need for that staple commodity - wheat and flour.

Entering Port of Adelaide, South Australia  - Photo CRB 2014

Entering Port of Hobart, Tasmania - photo CRB 214

Cross seas Henderson & Macfarlane Circular Saw Line became reknown for the fast barques Alice Cameron and the Auckland built Novelty - launched in 1862.

 Henderson & Macfarlane Vessels 1860 - 1886

H & M Vessels 1860 -1886		Type	Date First Owned
Alice Cameron  347 tons		Barque	1862
Novelty 376 tons		Barque	1862
Teazer		cutter
Neva 90 tons		Brigantine	1863
Thomas W. House renamed Sir George Grey		Barque	1864
Sir George Grey 596 tons		Barque	1864
Marion		Coal Hulk	1864
Bella Marina		Coal Hulk	1866
Pakeha 173 tons		Brig	1865 1865
Susan 185 tons		Clipper Brig	1866
Harvest Home		Cutter	1867 1869
Benjamin Heape		Barque Coal Hulk	1866 1869
Heversham  700 tons Celestia 350 tons		Clipper Barque Barque	1866 1868
Phoebe		Steamer	1869
Airedale  286 tons		brig rigged Steamer	1869
Lord Ashley 580 tons		Steamer	1869
Claude Hamilton 760		Steamer	1869
Result			1873
Triad		Cutter	1873
Glimpse 335 tons		Barque	1874
Ryno    85 tons		Brigantine	1874
Maid of the Mill 20 tons		Ketch	1875
Prospector		Barque	1875
Kriemhilda 35 tons		Schooner	1875
Belle Brandon 65 tons		Fore & Aft Schooner	1877
Wave of Life		Schooner	1878
Rose   37 tons		Schooner	1878
Coronet		Schooner	1879
Orwell   168 tons		Brigantine	1880
Especulador 262 tons		Whaler	1881
Sunbeam		Schooner	1881
Mazeppa		Schooner	1882
India		Barque	1882
Rose Casey		Steamer	1882
Stag		Barque	1883
Daphne		Cutter	1883
Rita		Yacht	1884
Torea		Schooner	1884
Ransom		Brigantine	1884
Awhina		Steam Tug	1885
Buster		Schooner	1886
Key to Chart
	1860 - 1869
	1869 - 1882
	1882 - 1886

1860 – 1869 Era Thomas Henderson, George Henderson, Gustav Von Der Heyde, Thomas Macfarlane AKA Macffarlane operating under company name Henderson & Macfarlane

 This era saw the fine, fast clipper barque - Alice Cameron added to the Circular Saw Line. The same year - 1862 saw the launch of the 376 ton barque Novelty, from the Auckland Shipyards of well known and respected H Niccol.

 In 1865, Henderson & Macfarlane acquired the brig Pakeha built in Nova Scotia in 1963. It was the brig Pakeha who bought the Nova Scotian immigrants to Auckland in 1864 - amongst the passengers were newly married Lemuel Bagnall who in early days of settlement went into shipbuilding with Darragh. Lemuel Bagnall then went on to timber milling, agricultural and horticultural interests, along with shipping - settling at Turua on the banks of the Waihou River opposite Thames.

Catherine Henderson (nee Macfarlane AKA McFarlane) wife of Thomas Henderson died 18 March 1867. The New Zealand Herald reported :-

"On Tuesday and Wednesday the flags of the various vessels in harbour were flown half-mast, in respect to the memory of Mrs. Thomas Henderson, wife of Mr. Henderson, of the firm of Henderson and Macfarlane, and owners of the famous fleet of Circular Saw Liners, and the two clippers Novelty and Alice Cameron, (of that line) now in harbour, have also been painted in mourning."

                      Shipping Intelligence. New Zealand Herald, 1 April 1867, Page 7

The partnership between  Thomas Macfarlane AKA Thomas Macffarlane, Gustav Von Der Heyde ( son -in-law of Thomas Henderson )  and George Henderson formed October 1866, was dissolved in 1869. Thomas Henderson snr. and Gustav Von Der Heyde continued on in partnership under the name of Henderson & Macfarlane.   

1869 - 1882 Era of Thomas Henderson Snr., George Henderson, Henry  William Henderson, Thomas Henderson Jnr, Gustav Von Der Heyde. Still operating under company name Henderson & Macfarlane

This was the era of other steam ship companies forming providing strong competition for survival. Following the liquidation of the Panama Steamship Company, Henderson & Macfarlane acquired Claud Hamilton, Phoebe, Lord Ashley and Airedale With the exception - shipwrecked Airedale near New Plymouth in 1871 bound for Taranaki and Southern Ports from Manukau.
 

In Ed. Garran, Hon. Andrew. 1892. Australasia Illustrated. Sydney: Picturesque Atlas Pub. Co. https://archive.org/stream/australasiaillus01garruoft#page/n9/mode/2up

   1871 saw Gustav Von der Heyde  chairing a meeting of the Shotover No 1 Gold Mining Company of Thames.  ( New Zealand Herald,30 January 1871, P 2 )  The Thames Goldfields, opened in 1867 drew many to the area and a number of gold mining companies were formed.

In December 1880 the Observer reported the engagement to be married of Miss Maggie Macffarlane, younger daughter of Mr. Thomas Macfarlane, to Mr. David Mills, manager of the Wellington branch of the Union Steamship Co. ( SOCIETY Observer, 18 December 1880, Page 124)  

They were married on 5 February 1881.  An occasion for families of two shipping lines. Newspapers reported ships sporting bunting - particularly  the Clyde built  Arawata of the Union Steam Ship Company and the Omaha built brigantine Ryno of Henderson & Macfarlane's circular saw line.

12 August 1882 bought another change when Thomas Henderson snr. disposed of the business Henderson & Macfarlane to his son Henry William Henderson and retired.

1882 - 1886 Era of Henry William Henderson. Still operating under company Henderson & Macfarlane

Thomas Macffarlane died 10 May 1885 - the outcome of a railway accident. (Thames Star,  11 May 1885, Page 2) Having given up his position in Henderson & Macfarlane in 1870, Macffarlane had contributed and was respected for work as 

Director of the Auckland Gas Company, Curator of Intestate Estates, a Visiting Justice of the Gaol and Asylum, the Acclimatisation Society, and Auckland Lawn Tennis Club, and the Bowling Club where he was President.

Just over a year later his former business partner in Henderson and Macfarlane, Circular Saw Line - Thomas Henderson Snr. - died after illness on 27 June 1886 in Wellington. True to tradition flags of various vessels in Auckland Harbour were at half mast as a token of respect. For Henderson who with his partners started and built up from nothing the Circular Saw Line. 

Another new era for his sons and Henderson & Macfarlane - traders and shippers. Also an era where steam surpasses sail and vessels become larger.

                                         

In Brett, Henry. “White Wings (Volume I).” The Brett Printing Company Limited, 1924. 
Photo p 123 courtesy NZETC

Reference Sources

• Brett, Henry. “White Wings (Volume I).” The Brett Printing Company Limited, 1924.“White Wings (volume II).” Auckland: The Brett Printing Company Limited, 1928. Books Also online – NZETC (NZ Electronic Tech Centre) White Wings 
•  The Cyclopaedia of New Zealand, Vol 2, Auckland Province. Christchurch: Cyclopaedia Company Limited, 1902. Also online NZETC (NZ Electronic Tech Centre) Cyclopaedia   
•  Tony Froude ,Circular Saw Line 
• Shipping coasters, ship owners, shipping companies – lists  Koel Junction  
•  Ozships   
• NZ NZMI Index of Ships National Maritime Museum   
•  Historical records births, deaths, marriages NZ NZ BDM   
• Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand   
•  Trove – newspapers Australia