THE SON SHIPPING OOY.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1917, Page 4

THE SON SHIPPING OOY.

THE OLD STEADIER lIA VIM RI

It- was reported some months ago that the old steamer Haupiri, which was such' a well-known unit of the. Union Company’s fleet, had been sunk under instructions from the Home authorities at the entrance to a French port. It will, therefore, come as a great surprise to those interested in shipping to know that the old vessel is still afloat and doing good service in

another part of the world. In the .columns of the shipping journal “Fairplay,’’ under date .July 2Gth, appears the following notice regarding the Ha up it'i in respect to the renaming of the vessel: —“l, William .Arthur Cox, of 24 St. Diary Axe, in the Cityof London, hereby give notice that in consequence of the boat hereunder mentioned being owned by the Sun Shipping Company, Ltd., and it being desired that all the company’s boats names shall have the prefix “Sun,” I have • applied to tile Board of Trade under section -17 of the MerchantShipping Act, 1894, in respect of my slap Haupirit of London, official number 89,09-1, of gross tonnage 715, or register tonnage 452, heretofore owned by Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, for permission to change her name to Sunland, to be registered in the said new name at the Port oi London, as owned by Sun Shipping Company, Ltd.” The Haupiri has had an. adventurous and long career. Many years ago she was purchased by the Union Steam Ship Company, being then known as the Richmond, and was. engaged in the South Sea Islands trade for some time. Later on she wa s placed placed in the Auckland-East Coast bays-Gis-borne service, in which trade she remained for several years. She also bad tho distinction of being the vessel to inaugurate the regular passenger and cargo servee between Wellington, Pieton, Nelson and Greymonth. The Haupiri, has met with several mishaps during her long servee. On one occasion a fire broke out on board shortly after she bad left A tieklkand for tho East Coast. The vessel at once returned to port, when the fire was extinguished by the Auckland Fire Brigade before any serious damage had been dine to the ship. On may 17th., 1913, she ran on shore at Barrett’s Reef, at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. The Haupiri put back to Wellington and was beached and subsequently repaired. In later {years the Haupiri was added to the unemployed list, and after being laid up i n Wellington Harbour for some considerable time was purchased by a South African firm. The vessel left Wellington about two years ago, and after reaching a South African port was then ordered to proceed to England.