Ship Høvding, A. B. Bull

The ship Høvding was built at A. B. Bull (J. Jensen) shipyard in Tønsberg - Norway in 1868. Tonnage was 778 tons gross, 739 net. She was the biggest ship ever built in the district at the time, and was considered to be one of the very best sailing ships in Norway. It once sailed the distance from Chicotini in Canada to London in 21 days. She was first ship rigged but was later bark rigged. She was used as a guano ship, but in 1872 and 1873 sailed with emigrants from Norway to New Zealand.

In 1872 a Mr. Bror Erik Friberg, a Norwegian who had lived in New Zealand for many years, was sent back to Norway to recruit his fellow country men to emigrate. Frieberg toured Norway and as a result of his talks the Høvding sailed from Christiania (now Oslo) bound for Napier on May 31st, 1872 with 365 Norwegians and 11 Danes on board. Leaving London in the company of the Ballerat which had 71 Danes on board. The two ships arrived in Napier Harbor within hours of each other on 15 September 1872, where little or no preparation for the settlers had been made. Many of the Norwegian emigrants who traveled on the Høvding in 1872 settled at a place which was given the name "Norsewood". Our friend Bob Hansen has submitted an article with historical background about the Norwegian settlers.

NORSEWOOD - NEW ZEALAND, KIWI VIKINGS AND A LITTLE BIT OF NORWAY DOWNUNDER

In 1873 the Høvding made another voyage with emigrants for New Zealand. According to contemporary newspaper reports, she arrived at Napier in December 1st, after a voyage of 109 days from Drøbak (She actually departed from Christiania Aug. 8th). According to newspaper reports, 7 children were born on the voyage, and 11 children died, 6 of them were infants. Many of the passengers complained about insufficient and poor provisions on this voyage. Because of the complaints a commission inspected the ship shortly after the arrival to Napier. A Napier newspaper reported on December 3rd, that all of the unmarried men and women, and many of the married people, with a few exceptions, was given employment as from 10 o'clock in the morning that day day. The others the day later. The ship was according to the ship owner, A. B. Bull, freighted by a Dr. Featherston, member of the New Zealand government. Food and other provisions included according to "Norwegian customs". Dr. Featherston personally inspected the ship and provisions before the ship departed from Christinia. The ship had 5 months' provisions for 300 passengers, but there were only 209 passengers on the ship. The commission which inspected the ship found no reason for the complaints. According to A. B. Bull, the complaints were set out by an English family, who were not used to Norwegian conditions. As an example, they had refused to eat rye porridge for supper. The provisions had been of the same kind as the previous year, and Bull claimed it was not uncommon that some kinds of food could get spoiled on such a long voyage in varying climates.

Master from 1868 to 1873 was C. B. Bergh, also mastered by Randolph Bull and later A. A. Nordby. She was also owned by C. I. Moberg. Stranded in 1875.