OLD STEAMER KENNEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1929, Page 2

OLD STEAMER KENNEDY

PASSENGERS FOR DIGGINGS

PREVENTION OF OVERCROWDING

The fires beneath the boilers of the old coastal steamer Kennedy are dead —her blackened hull rides gently on cue sheltered waters of Wellington Harbour. The casual glance of an idler 011 the wharf is attracted for a moment by her deserted appearance. Over half a century has passed away since the old steamer began to trade on tlie New Zealand coast (says the Evening Post). There are only a few who pause for ■i moment to reflect on the romance attached to the life of New Zealand’s oldest steamer, which is now awaiting a decision from the owners that vt .il 1, all probability send her to her doom, S-nould that decision be made the last link with the early days of New Zealand’s coastal shipping will fall away, for the Kennedy is not only the oldest steamer in the Dominion, but, with the exception of the Australian steamer Edina, is the oldest steamship on the British register.

'l’he Kennedy arrived at Nelson on October 7th. 1865, on her maiden voyage from Sydney. Jn those days she was a. three-masted twin-screw steamer, rigged fore and aft, and fitted with a centreboard. For some time she was used principally between Wellington, Nelson and the West Coast. The ship proved very popular with passengers, and, in conjunction with the Murray, Charles Edward, Wallace, and Lyttelton, maintained a regular service to Westport and Hokitika. In later years she proved an excellent ship for the West Coast cargo trade, as she could carry a bo.. 200 tons deadweight on a draught of Bft. 6in.

In September, 1919, the Kennedy was purchased by tbe Manawatu Steam Ship Company. When she was first placed in the Foxton-Wollington service by her new owners trade was very brisk, but in recent years cargnc? have become increasingly hard to find, and it was later decided to transfer the old ship to the Foxton-Lyttolton run. Up to the time of her mihsap on tlie Fox toil Beach last November the Kennedy continued to run between those two ports, and made an occasional trip to Wellington.

THE WEST COAST GOLD RUSH. The Kennedy was first owned in New Zealand by Messrs N. Edwards and Co., of Nelson, but after some years the company was formed into the Anchor Line of Steam Packets, which was entirely owned by the late Mr J. Symons, of Nelson. On his death the line was converted into tlie Anchor Shipping Company, and in 1901 this company gave way to the present Anchor Shipping and Foundry Company Ltd.

The most interesting period of tlie Kennedy’s history is that connected with the gold rushes to the Wrest Coast from Nelson in the ’sixties and ’seventies. Trip after trip the vessel was filled by as many as could stand on her decks or hang on to her lower rigging—there were 110 Government regulations as to the maximum number of passengers to be carried in those days. It was a hopeless task to moor tlie ship at the-wharf in the usual way, as the men would swarm over the ship’s side in an attempt to ensure their passage to the West Coast.

To meet the situation the vessel was anchored off the wharf and a narrow plank: was placed across the intervening space. In this way only one man at a time was able to board the ship. Even then it was quite a common occurrence to have over 206 passengers when the vessel put out to sea. Beside: carrying passengers the Kennedy took a monthly shipment of gold from Hokitika to Nelson, and once carried as much as 56,000 ounces of gold, valued at well over £160,000. On several occasions the Kennedy ran ashore at Greymouth and Hokitika' and was left high and dry above the higlnvater line. Each time it was possible to relaunch the ship by placing her on greased skids and slipping her hack into the water.

STOPPING A HOLE WITH ELOPE, An amusing incident in connection with tli© Kennedy is related by Mr W. 0. Hodgson, of Wellington, who served as purser on the old ship when she was in the passenger trade. The Kennedy, then commanded by the late Captain Palmer, was chartered by the Government to transfer a locomotive from Greymouth to Waitara for th New Plymouth-Waitara railway. The engine was placed on board, but when the ship was crossing the Greymouth bar she’Struck a rock and knocked a hole in her hull. Water rushed in, and the vessel had to put back to Greymouth, where she was beached in a sinking condition. After the water had been pumped out a bag of flour was forced into tli' hole and tommed down. The ship again put to sea, and after an uneventful voyage, during which the bag of floo . held absolutely watertight, she arrived at Waitara, and landed the locomotive at the wharf. She then returned to Nelson, where permanent repairs were efFccted. With the action of the salt water th© flour had by that time become solidified and considerable difficulty was experienced in removing 1 1 bag from the hull. The locomotive taken to Waitara was the first train engine to be used bn the Waitara-Xew Plymouth. Many of the older members of the Anchor Company received part of their early training in the old Kennedy. Mr W Rogers, now manager of the company, served on her as purser, am 1 Captain W. Wildman, commodore of the Anchor Company’s fleet, served his time on her before the mast.