STEAMER DUCHESS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1931, Page 5

STEAMER DUCHESS

NO BUYER FOR OLD FERRY BOAT.

AUCKLAND, June 12

An auctioneer this morning made a vain attempt to find a new owner for the two-funnelled excursion steamer Duchess, which ran during the summer in the Ivawau Island service. The best hid offered was one of £2050,, but- as this was considerably below the reserve price no sale was made. Over 50 men were present, and the auctioneer took the liberty of addressing them as “nautical gentlemen” prior to the start of the sale. The one topic of conversation, was the steamer, and one man was heard to remark that her “boilers are pretty good,” and another “she still ha s plenty of speed in her.”

After detailing the conditions of sale the auctioneer gave a brief description of the boat. “She was built in England in 1597 for service as an English Channel tug. That fact, alone shows that she is something more than just an ordinary ferry steamer,” he said. “She had new boilers fitted arid certain other work carried out in 1923 at a cost of £IO,OOO. and she was insured, up till last month for £9OOO. You men know the boat from A to Z, so there is no need for me to tell you anything else about her. She is ready to go to sea immediately. Now what is your first bid?” “Is she worth £10,000?” asked the auctioneer, “No, well, vvliat about £7000? Well, we’ll make it £OOOO Rn' a start.” TV.ere were no bids. “Good gracious! Here is a boat that cost £40,000 or £50,000, and had £lO,000 spent on her only a year or so ago” your own price. Is she worth £2000? Bless me, you pay more than that for a racehorse. What about Ammon Ra ? Who will offer me £ISOO then?” The first bid came at £ISOO, and from there the price went in £IOO rises to £2OOO. An offer by the auctioneer to accept £SO bids brought an increase to £2050, but bidders were silent. The auctioneer ,s.aid-ki‘jhe regretted that he could : hot 1 allow the" steamer to change hands, at’, the price', offered.,-