FATE OF THE ROTOMAHANA.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1924, Page 2

FATE OF THE ROTOMAHANA.

j AFCKI.AXI). Jmu' IT. fkc '■lu ll uf wliac was iiiici* the ‘on-t.-d pa-senger steamer Kotninahiiini will lie lakfii in its last resting j 11• 11 *i 1 to-morrow. It i- to In- tnweil tn I‘aJiiki Island. in the Gulf, to he Mink in Inriii the foundation nf a a hart . .Messrs MeC'.'a Hu in Hrothers bonglu the hulk for that purpose to (militate the loading nf shingle. The final disposal of the vessel is of more than iiassino interest. :is she is :i relic of the early days of Auckland, "here she was liitill in ISiTi by Messrs Fraser anil Tinne. Another smaller iron steamer. the Kina, was being Guilt at the same time hy .1. Fraser, tin engineer and hoilermaker ;it Freeman's hav, and there was groat rivalry ;is to who should have the honour of completion t!ii> first iron steamer. The result was that the llotomahana was launched L’O minutes ahead of the oilier vessel. The Kotoinnhana proved a {treat success, and for nearly hi ye;il- carried passenger- and cart" from Auckland to Thames and Coromandel. When she became too old for I active service -he wtts utilised for her owner-. the Northern Company. Kveitttiallv she became unfit for that work, and last year was sold to shipbreakers, who dismantled everything ot value and then sold the remain- to Messes Wf'Cajlum Ornthers