HULK COROMANDEL

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 74, 29 March 1933, Page 6

HULK COROMANDEL

END IN SIGHT /

OLD IMMIGRANT SHIP

s The hulk Coromandel was not' towed out to sea and "sunk this morning, as was intended yesterday/ but she will go to her last resting place off ,Taurakirae Head tomorrow, or the first favourable opportunity afterwards. « The Coromandel is! well known to frequenters of the 'Wellington •'• waterfront. -Ihose who have lived in Wellington for many years can remember the interest taken in her when she "heeled -over at the Railway Wharf in 1896,. and remained on her side for two years three months while various plans for raising her were discussed. The bell outside the Labour Foreman's office on the Queen's Wharf came from the Coromandel.

The Coromandel, an iron barque of 848 tons, was built at Glasgow in 1875 for Mr. John Fairlie, of Glasgow. : Engaged m the Indian trade fo!fr three years after she was launched, she was then chartered by the Shaw, Savill Company. In 1878 she.made her first voyage to the Dominion, arriving at Lyttelton on. June 28. During the. voyage the barque" shipped a heavy sea over the starboard quarter, and the binnacle, starlight, and com-panion-hatch were carried away. The cabin was filled with water, and serious damage was done. The Coromandel had another rough voyage when bound for Lyttelton in ISB4. Captain Hendry reported that on August 14 the barque experienced a south-west gale with terrific squalls of sleet and hail, the vessel lyingto with tarpaulins in tile mizzen rigging. During the last six weeks of the passage the decks were never dry, as* gale after gale was encountered until the vessel reached port.

The, Coromandel made seven voyages to New Zealand, two being to Auckland, one ta Wellington (she arrived here on February 8, 1881), three to Lyttelton, and one to Port Chalmers. She brought many immigrants to these shores. Her smartest passage was one of ninety-two days to Lyttelton.

Captain L. Williams bought the vessel, and used her in the intercolonial trade. He sailed her until 1896, when she almost became a. total wreck at Westport. She was refloated, however, and under the command of the late Captain Bendall, was brought on to Wellington. The barque experienced very rough weather, during which the pumps had to be kept going, and' eventually she was towed into port and was berthed at the Railway Wharf. The crew, who . were exhausted from pumping, just tied the barque up and left her.

Just before the Coromandel was berthed the Otago dredge had been working, and dredged to within twenty or thirty feet of the wharf, leaving a fairly high bank. The Coromandel. settled on the edge of the bank, and on May 2, 1890; she capsized in about six or seven .fathoms of water, lying on her side. The barque remained, in that position for two years three months. Numerous attempts were made to refloat her, but all ended in failure until a. Mr. Thomas! Carmichael, a Wellington contractor, was successful. ! When the hull of the. ship was made ready for pumping, powerful' centrifugal pumps were rigged, and steam from the, boilers of three or four small steamers was .used to drive the pumps. Pumping yras started at 9 a.m., and by 2 p.m.,the decks were above water, and the barque was standingl on an even keel again. In yesterday's "Post" it was stated that the Coromandel remained on her side for nearly twelve months. This information was obtained from Brett's ffWhite Wings," but it;is apparently incorrect, as the Harbour Board records give the period as two years three months. The Coromandel was subsequently converted into a hulk, and since 1922 has been owned by the Union Steam Ship. Company. , ■■;■.'