THE ROTOMAHANA’S END

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1924, Page 3

THE ROTOMAHANA’S END

•sold ii. uir-iiKiju.rr'. ; .j f.Lie Auckland ccnta! semco and another W jears as •> hulk in Auckland Harbour, the N"i(l.c"in Company's steamer Rotomahana, is now meeting her end (says the "Herald ’). She lias heeii sold to the shipbreakers, who are dismantling her, and planning to send her to a watery grave in the deep waters of the Hauraki Gulf, where she- plied so actively during her

long career of sea service. The Rotoinahiuia was built at Auckland in 1876, for the Thames trade. Slit* was many years in the service under the charge of Captain A. Earquhcr. When the paddle steamer AYaknterc arrived iroin .Scotland, to lake up the Thames service, over 20 years ago, the Rotomahana was transferred to the Coromandel run, with Captain R. Gibbons as master. She rail between Coromandel and Auckland almost constantly until October, 191-1. The vessel was then anchored in "Rotten Row,” where she remained idle i'or a considerable (time. AVhen regulations came into force with regard to oil storage, the Rotomahana was utilised for an oil storage bulk until the Northern Company fitted on a better vessel for that purpose.

Recently Ihe old vessel was sold to Mr E. Appleton, of Newmarket, for scrap iron. The vessel is now berthed alongside the King’s A! liari, where bet engines arid everything ol value, are being taken out of her. As she lies at. the wharf, n weather-beaten shell, it is hard to realise that once she was n very smart vessel.