BULL ROCK WRECK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20027, 28 August 1939, Page 12

BULL ROCK WRECK

ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEK ILL-FATED TONGARIRO The visit to Tokomaru Bay during the past few days of the steamer Tongariro almost coincides with the anniversary of the ill-fated voyage made to the East Coast by the former s.s Tongariro. Bound from Auckland to Wellington, the Tongariro struck on Bull Rock, off Portland Island, on the night of August 30, 1916, and became a total wreck.

As in the case of tjje present overseas liner, the original Tongariro carried the New Zealand Shipping Company’s flag and was of similar dimensions to the present trader. She was a steel twin-screw steamer of 8073 tons gross, measuring 457. ft. in length and was built at Newcastl-e----on-Tyne in 1901. The ill-fated Tongariro was steaming at a 1 fair speed and struck the rock with a terrific crash at about 7 p.m. The ship listed badly, with the bow sinking deep into the water and the stern rising high into the air. The crew managed to launch .two lifeboats, and all were picked up by the s.s. Koutunui. The vessel broke lin 'two, right across No. 3 hold and the hull and cargo were soon completely destroyed. The' toss of the Tongariro, which would be unfortunate at any time, was rendered doubly regrettable at that particular period owing to the shortage of shipping during the Great War. The present Tongariro was built in 1925 at. the shipyards of Messrs, W. Hamilton and Company, Port Glasgow. She has a gross tonnage of 8719 and a length of 4Goft.