Description This is the story of how a Scottish shipbuilder came to Onehunga, near Auckland in New Zealand and whose life and the lives of his family, eventually became severely affected by coming into contact with David Kirkwood (1853-1913), an entrepreneur and shipowner also based at Onehunga. The tale spreads around New Zealand, the Pacific, the globe and ultimately back to New Zealand In 2018, occurred the uncovering after a severe storm, still in good condition, of one of David Kirkwood’s vessels, the 53ft (17m) schooner Daring It had gone ashore at Te Oneone Rangatira Beach just south of the Kaipara Harbour entrance in February 1865. This has led to it being uplifted and displayed alongside Mangawhai Museum by the Mangawhai Daring Trust, north of Auckland, nearby where it had originally been built in 1863. A consequence, has been a lot more research going into its wider circumstances during the 1860s, including David Hutchison’s story which is a significant part of the history surrounding the discovery. Now read the book..
