THE MARAROA

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1931, Page 8

THE MARAROA

OCEAN RACE TO SYDNEY. The approaching visit of the Matson liner. Sonoma to Auckland calls to mind the race across the Tasman which took place between the American vessel and the Union Company’s Mararoa some thirty years ago. The Sonoma’s engineers had a wager with the Union men that they could give them six hours’ start, and beat them on the run-.to Sydney. The wAger was accepted and the contest fixed to take place, upon the first occasion when the ships were in port together. The Mararoa was scheduled to sail for Sydney at 5.30 p.m. on a Monday evening, but owing to some minor defect in the engine room her departure had to be postponed until midnight. The vessel was berthed bow outwards at the old Quay Street jetty, her rival being moored alongside the outer eastern tee of the old Queen Street wharf, with her hows pointing down stream. About five minutes before sailing time the Mararoa’s gangway was lowered and the how line- east off. allowing her bows to swing away from tile jetty. Punctually on the first stroke of midnight from the New Zealand Insurance clock the captain gave the order “Let go aft!” and the clang of the engine room telegraph signified to the many hundreds waiting on the wlmr- 1 that the 1280 miles’ race had begun. The little ship sped rapidly away from her berth and passed close to the Sonoma. before she turned towards Devimport and disappeared roil tic 1 the end of the Railway wharf. The Americans called out “Good-bye. Mararoa. good luck!” the New Zealanders replying, “Good-bye, Sonoma, see you in Sydney!” The night was beautifully fine and calm and ideal weather conditions were experienced throughout the voyage. Be ore the Rangitoto Beacon was reached the Mura rail's engines wen-

running at their maximum revolutions. She carried extra firemen and a quantity of kerosene, which was sprayed into the furnaces. Promptly at 0 a.m. the following morning the big 6000-ton mail steamer started off in pursuit ol her little red-funnelled rival. The Sonoma people reckoned to overtake the Mararoa on Thursday al'term on but when darkness fell she had not been sighted, and the Yankee stokers were having a real hot time of it down lietow. Shortly after daylight on Friday morning the SonoimCs lookout man reported: “Mararoa ahead!” The larger vessel was then doing nearly 19 knots, and cutting through it like a racehorse hut the little Mararoa held her own and passed through Sydney Heads at 6.15 a.m., the Sonoma arriving about an hour later. As the Union steamer wa.s proceeding up Sydney Harbour the passengers on the Manly terry gave her a great welcome and called out, “What have you done with the Yank?” So ended the ocean race, the honours all being with the Mararoa, a comparatively small steamer of 2598 tons, once the pride of the Pacific, and now lying on the sea bottom in Cook Strait —a truly deplorable ending for such a noble vessel, which had sailed the seas for over forty years and had transported thousands of New Zealanders in safety and comfort. Farewell, Mararoa. you will never be forgotten, and memory of .vour victory will be revived by tin's repetition of the story of the great trans-Tasman race.—W.H.P., Auckland “Star”.