"Bounty" Anchor for Auckland

Museum

IT is reported from New Zealand that the anchor from HMS “Bounty” shortly will be presented to the Auckland Museum by Mr. H. R. Jenkins, who has been on a Pacific wander in the “Golden Hind”. Mr. Jenkins purchased the anchor from the Chief of the Arue District, in Tahiti, for 2,500 francs (about £25), and also made a donation to the French museum at Papeete.

The anchor has considerable historic interest. After the mutiny on the

"Bounty” in 1789, Fletcher Christian brought the vessel back to Tahiti; but, after taking on supplies and water found that the “Bounty” had grounded on a sunken reef. He thereupon used his spare anchor as a kedge to haul her off.

This was successful, but the kedge was held fast by the coral, and the cable had to be cut. In the succeeding years the natives made many attempts to shift the anchor, but it was not until about 50 years ago, when the corrosive action of the coral released it, that the anchor was dragged to the edge of the lagoon.

One of the flukes was missing and the shaft had been eaten away. Several years later the chief of the district removed the relic to his back yard, and made efforts to have the anchor’s authenticity established by the authori ties in England. This photograph, which was published in the “PIM” in 1938, shows the anchor as it then lay on the beach in Tahiti.