Page:Reminiscences of Earliest Canterbury 1915.pdf/200

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

197

Island Bay, called from a small island at its mouth.

Long Bay No. 2.

Horseshoe Bay.

Whale Rock, or the Frenchman’s Whale. In the good old whaling days a French whaler in the early morning threw a harpoon at this rock, mistaking it for a whale. That is how it got its name. It is at the east side of Piraki headland.

Piraki Bay or Cove. It was in this bay where Captain Hempelmann established the first shore whaling station on the south side of Banks Peninsula in 1835.

Robin Hood Bay, called after a vessel that was wrecked there in the ’forties. She went to load oil and whalebone for Sydney.

Long Bay No. 3.

Tumbledown Bay. This bay derived its name from one Billy Simpson, who arrived with Captain George Hempelmann in 1835. He, being a very trustworthy man, was sent to one of the other whaling stations for a case of spirits. He carried the case for a considerable distance. It was a warm day, he became thirsty, and sat down for a rest. He broached the cargo, and drank rather too much. When he got up with his load he