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| Note the Tolkien-like door on it |
The story goes that in the 1800's the locals out in the Heads area used to smuggle ashore cargo that had a high excise cost - usually tobacco, whisky and brandy.
They landed it on a South East facing bay named Smugglers Bay.
Ships bringing the goods could safely anchor and drop goods to the settlers safely away from the eyes of the excise men in Whangarei.
Should the excise men get wind of a shipment they would head out of the harbour to go around Busby Head before getting to Smugglers Bay. Frenchman Island is by Busby Head and has a good view across the harbour to Whangarei so is a good vantage point.
The Frenchman, associated with the smugglers, lived inside the island which has a cavernous chamber, a door and a chimney. If he saw the excise men he would light a smoky fire which the lookouts above Smugglers Bay could see and alert the contrabanders well before the excise men arrived.
Whether true or not it is a great story and would make for a good novel or film.
The Frenchman built a room inside the island, a door and a chimney (and breathing vents).
It is a bit basic though.
If he'd been a Scotsman he may well have made better use of his resource and built something a bit more stylish and comfortable.
5 comments:
Is that a true picture? I mean the last one.
Sleep easy Richard. it's a fantasy picture.
Clearly early New Zealand was crying out for the services of the Famous Five. Julian, Dick and the rest could have outwitted them and been home in time for tea. Your average NZ kiddy is appalling at simple smuggler catching ...
Funny you say that Tracey. I've sketched out a novel about children at the Heads. It is set in 1942 and it isn't smugglers but Japanese spies with a backdrop of theGerman sea raiders who laid mines to sink the Niagara a year before. My kids catch the spies.
Sorry Second. My novel is for children not for pulp fiction aficionados.
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