WELLER, EDWARD, was in Bay of Islands and Hauraki Gulf about 1832. He and his brothers (Joseph and George), all of Sydney, founded the first whaling station in Otago in 1831. In that year they bought the Lucy Ann. They had some trouble with unfriendly Maoris and difficulties in sending their products to England, as New Zealand was not a British possession. In 1835 they established a shore station at Timaru. By 1839 they had purchased a large area of land from Otago chiefs, and Weller drew up a scheme to settle about 50 families on it. In 1840 they investigated the prospect for a station at Port Levy. When the competition of whalers in the southern part of New Zealand increased, the Wellers reduced their establishments and Edward returned to Sydney, where he died.

McNab, Murihiku and Whaling Days; Woodhouse; Hocken, Otago.

Reference: Volume 2, page 242

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