HARRIS, JOHN WILLIAMS (1808-72) was born in Cornwall. Going to sea with his uncle in a China tea clipper (in which he learned a good deal about navigation), he deserted his ship and found his way to Australia, where he obtained employment with J. Barrow Montefiore and Co., Sydney. In 1830 the firm sent him to New Zealand as agent for the purchase of flax and other produce, and he eventually settled at Turanga under the protection of the chief Turangi and married a Maori woman. He established the first shore whaling station on the East Coast and was the first European to settle permanently in the Poverty Bay district. Harris had considerable success as a storekeeper and sheepfarmer, but fell upon evil days in his later years and died tragically in Auckland on 4 Feb 1872. While on a visit to Sydney in 1837 Harris left with a relative the moa bones which were eventually laid before Professor Owen.

Buick, Discovery of Dinornis (p); W. L. Williams; Gisborne Times, 30 Oct 1926; N.Z. Herald, 6 Feb 1872.

Reference: Volume 1, page 199

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