A COSMOPOLITAN SHIP

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1932, Page 6

A COSMOPOLITAN SHIP

CHINESE BOAT “ARATAPU.” The Chinese-owned auxiliary schooner Aratapu, a New Zealand-built vessel with a Maori name, and registered in Peru, sailed from Auckland with a British crew on Sunday evening for a French, possession. The Aratapu ha» been well known in the intercolonial and New Zealand coastal trade for over 50 years (says tb r Auckland Herald), and during that period she ha,s had an into.a»iing career. Built at Aratapu, on the Northern Wairoa River, iii 1878, the vessel was first rigged as a brigantine, with square yards on the foremast. She was engaged in the coastal timber trade for 44 years, during which time she occasionally went to Australia. There were several changes of ownership. and in 1922 tbe Aratapu was converted into a fore and aft schooner and fitted with an oil engine. Her name was changed to Zeta, but later she was renamed Aratapu. Last December tb© Aratapu was rer-om-'missioned. She readied Auckland from Waitara on January 12 and a few week's later she was sold to Air C. H. Afardon, who intended to utilise the vessel in the Fiji Island trade. The project, however, "'as dropped. This resulted in the Aratapu changing owners again and she was pme based by Air" A. Cluing, n Chinese merchant, Auckland. She " ,1S registered at Auckland on Saturday under the Peruvian flag. From Auckland Hie vessel will proceed to Papeete, Tahiti, to enter the Islands’ trade. There is a. possibility that she may later go to Peru to load a cargo of guano for New Zealand.