On Tuesday 1st August, instead of going to the Den, the Te Awaroa Kotuku Cub Pack went out to visit the Huia Museum. Ken Laurence was nice enough to agree to come down and open up the museum just for us, and show us around inside. It's only a small community museum but it's packed with interesting stuff from the Huia area - everything from kitchen and laundry equipment, to things from the old Post Office and shop, to logging gear, plus a whole lot more.

There were lots of really interesting photos, and a whole room dedicated to the wreck of the HMS Orpheus which sank on 7 February 1863 while trying to enter the Manukau harbour across the bar. The charts they were using were out of date and none of the officers on board had experience on the Manukau Harbour. The Captain set a course too far to the south and hit the sand bar at about 1:30 pm. The engines siezed and gradually the ship rolled on to its side. Many of the sailors were swept away or crushed. At around 8 pm the masts began to break off killing most of the crew who remained on board.