THE s.s. KENNEDY

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3896, 17 January 1929, Page 3

THE s.s. KENNEDY

EARLY DAYS RECALLED. PASSING OF AN OLD SHIP. The fires beneath the boilers of the old coastal steamer Kennedy are dead —her blackened hull rides gently on the sheltered waters of Wellington Harbour (says the Post). The casual glance of an idler on 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 the New Zealand coast, but there are only a few who„ pause for a moment to reflect on the romance attached to the life of New Zealand’s oldest steamer, which is now awaiting a decision from her owners that will in all probability send her to her doom. When that decision is 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. THE “OLD” KENNEDY.

Although no alterations have been made to the Kennedy during recent years she is a totally different, ship to the Kennedy which arrived at Nelson on 7th October, 1865, on her maiden voyage from 'Sydney. In those days she was a three-masted twin screw steamer’, rigged fore and aft, and fitted with a centreboard. She was equipped with 1 what at that time was considered a “spacious and handsome saloon,” ladies’ cabins, and a fore cabin for gentlemen. Alterations were rendered necessary as the passenger traffilc began to decline, and some year's after she had undergone a complete overhaul in the yards of her builders, the Australian Steam Navigation Co., Sydney, her decks were raised in different places, and when Captain W. Wildman relinquished command she was reconditioned for cargo service ■ and her decks raised to their present position. Before she was converted into a cargo ship, however, she had been fitted with a new set of engines constructed by Messrs Fraser and Tiune, of Auckland, and she has since had her original boiler replaced by that taken from the Aotea, which was wrecked on the Patea Bar. When she first came to New Zealand she was used 'principally between Wellington, Nelson, and, the West Coast. The ship proved very popular with passengers, and in conduction 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 about 200 tons deadweight on a draught of Bft. Gin. Contrary to general opinion, the Kennedy was never lengthened, as were many of the old ships trading from Nelson. In September, 1919, the Kennedy was purchased by the Manawatu Steam Ship Company to take the place of the Queen of the South which was wrecked off Cape Campbell. When she was first " placed in the Foxton-Wellington service by her new owners trade was brisk, hut in recent yearns cargoes have become increasingly hard to find, and it was later decided to transfer the old ship to the Foxton-Lyttelton run. Up to the time of her mishap on the Foxton beach last November, the Kennedy continued to run between those two ports, and made an occasional trip to Wellington. The Kennedy was owned 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. On his death the line was converted into the Anchor Shipping Company, and in 1991 this company gave way to the Anchor Shipping and Foundry Co., Ltd. GOLD RUSH DAYS.

Without doubt the most interesting period of the Kennedy’s history was during the gold rushes to the West Coast in the ’seventies. Trip, after trip the vessel was tilled by as many who could stand on her decks or hang on to her lower rigging—there were no Government regulations as to the maximum number of passengers to be earned in,.those days. It was a hopeless task to moor the ship at the wharves in the usual way, as the men would swarm over the ship’s sides in an attempt to ensure their passage to the West Coast. To meet the situation the vessel was anchored off the wharves 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 200 passengers when the yessel put out to sea. Besides carrying passengers, the Kennedy took a monthly shipment of gold from Hokitika to Kelson, and once earned as much as 50,000 ounces of gold valued at well over £IOO,OOO. On several occasions the Kennedy ran ashore at Greyim'outh and Hokitika, and was left •high and dry above the high water line. Each time it was possible to re-launch the ship by placing her on greased skids and slipping her back into the water. STOPPING A HOLE WITH FLOUR. An amusing incident in connection with the Kennedy is related by Mr. W. C. Hodgson, of Wellington, who served as a pursuer on the old r gbip when she was used in the pasS enger trade. The Kennedy, which - was then commanded by the late Captain Palmer, was chartered by

the Government to transfer a locomotive from Greymouth to Waitara for the New Plymouth-. Waitara railway. The engine was safely 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 the hole and rammed down. The ship again put to sea, and after an uneventful voyage during which the bag of flour held absolutely watertight, she arrived at Waitara and landed the locomotive at Hie wharf. She then returned to Nelson, where she was slipped to have permanent repairs effected. With the action of the salt water the flour had by that time become solidified, and considerable difficulty was experienced in removing the bag from the hull. The fact that the locomotive taken to Waitara was the first train engine to be dsed at New Plymouth is also of interest. NOTABLE OFFICERS.

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, and Captain W. Wildman, commodore of the Anchor Company’s fleet and master of the Arahura, served his time on her before the mast. Mr. Rogers, who joined the company in 1875 as an office boy, received a salary of £25 per annum, and had to serve his first three months -, with the company without wages, as he was considered to be “on trial.” Mr. W. C. Hodgson, who now resides at Oriental Bay, was purser in the ’seventies. Other well-known masters were the late Captains F. Whitwcll, Palmer, Quance, Creagh, J. Dillon, W. Comvay, E. S. Williams, and Mark Ferneaux. Captains F. Viekertaan, E. Graham, A. Wildman, and S. Stuart also had command of the Kennedy when she was orvned by the Anchor Company.