S.S. WAINUI

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1929, Page 1

S.S. WAINUI

STEAMER TO BE SCRAPPED. By Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright. AUCKLAND, June 10. After lying idle at Auckland tor two years the Union Company’s small steamer Wainui, it is understood, has been sold to sliiphreakers, who will dismantle everything of value on hoard and then dispose of the shell off the vessel by sinking it at sea or by other means. The Wainui is a steel steamer of 684 tons gross and is the oldest vessel Init one owned by the Union Company. She was built at Dumbarton, Scotland, in 1886, and during most of her career she was engaged in the West Coast coastal trade. Since the Wainui has been withdrawn from active service she has been utilised at times as a store ship for coal, and her condition is such that it would he too expensive to put her into commission again. When the Wainui came to New Zealand on her maiden voyage the company had only tliritv steamers, the largest off which was the Mararoa. This vosesl only a year old, was tlic most luxurious and fastest steamer in the intercolonial service. Her tonnage was 2598, and her speed was 15 knots. The Mararoa and Wainui are the only two steamers left of the company’s iortG fleet. The other vessels of that period have all been replaced by more modern and larger craft.