Thanks for your continued interest Lu.
The items on the table are my editorial notations. The source for them, in the main, being from within the recovered text of the GRANDMAMA tale, as published by the Waikato Times. My assumption that David BRUCE is/was the Rev David Bruce is because of press coverage of his appointment - arrival - and preaching immediately following the arrival of the SIMLAH at Auckland. NOTE Two months was the stated age of her child a Christmas, and though her story has them immediatley thereafter, boarding the vessel, the papers record it leaving GRAVESEND on February 19th. She stated the voyage lasted 100 days and had arrived in March, but our papers record the arrival at the begining of June, so probably nearer 110 days from clearing the UK to Auckland.
http://www.maungatautarimarae.co.nz/hitori/1800-2 The Maungatautari Marae history notes on their web page, give some more insight the the SHEPHERD'S presence in their community, and supports Annie's account of that period.
Interesting for me, is the fact that the email that awaited my return on Sunday, while relating to my Hukanui research, referred to the genealogy links of key people in that research, to those mentioned in the Maungatautari Marae history notes. [NgatiWairere]
Still trying to find photo's / lithograph's of laden canoes as described by Annie. Closest I came to are some from Wanganui River transportation. Can not recall one of a canoe loaded up how Annie described, but thousands of tons of freight found it's way to Pura Pura and through the Waiuku portage route, and return of Colonial goods.
Now have some UK press clippings, pre sailing of the Simlah, but nothing on the newly [?] married Captain James TURNBULL. Most the reports in the UK and even NZ after the arrival were naming a former Captain Robinson, as in command. Attached the 1852 shipping out rates.
Alan.
4/1/20 Edit. Correction; changed Museum to read Marae.