THE OLDEST STEAMER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 268, 20 April 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE OLDEST STEAMER.

STORY OF THE EDINA. For many years two Bieamcrs were kr.own as the oldest in Australasia, Bays the Melbourne Argus. Lloyd's gave the year of launching in each instance as 1854. They were the Storrabird and th« Edina, and New Zealand possessed the Stormbird and Victoria the Edina. Only last year the Stormbird became a total wreck at the mouth of the Wanganui River, and the Ettsa was loft to undisputed priority. Tlie Edina, which haa a tonnage of 380 was build at I.eith, and was first en<4<*cd in the North Sea trade, makirg runs to Rotterdam and neighbouring ports, with passengers and cargo, the latter consisting mainly of herrings. She had an adventurous youth. In the Crimean war her turn of speed, considerable for thoso days, caused her to bo select*! as a blockade runner. For some years afterwards she is lost to research behind some peaceful vocation. - Then she emerged as a blockade runner. This was in 1863, when she brought bales of cotton from Galveston, Texas, during the American Civil War. The Edina" was still a comparatively r.cw ship when Messrs. James Henty and Co. brought her to Australia on behalf of Mr Stephen George Henty and Mr Edward Henty. Portland thereupon became her headquarters. These gentlemen used her for the conveyance ot vool from Portland to Melbourne, though she occasionally made a trip to Tasraanian ports. To this day the amount of merchandise she can carry would surprise anyone regarding her merely as an excursion steamer. Hel yearly average of cargo on the Mel-bcurne-Geelong service is 60,0(JO tons. The Massrs. Henty transferred the Edina to one of the Western district shipping companies, under whose management she continued on the same revte. Soon, however, she felt the influence of the discovery of gold in New Zealand. To oae of the West Coast ri.shes she carried in one voyage no fewer than 350 diggers. Travellers of a later generation can scarcely imagine how such a number slept on board so small a ship, for her full complement of pasengers in the bay service is reckoned at about 600. An illustration in the Argus shows the vessel in 1869. when she still had three mxsts, and carried canvas as an auxiliarv power, she .was square-rigged on the 'foremast. The saloon may be seen to have been amidships; her present peculiarity built-up astern is a recent addition. Although her bowsprit remains, the figure-head has disappear ed The Edina's reputation must, havo been high, for, during the early "seventies" she was bought by her present owners (Australian Steamships Ltd.), and entrusted with the inauguration of the Queensland service, which has sincv become their most important route. The Edina gave way to larger ship.* after a few years, and in 1880 entered the service in which she has becoroi most widely known. This was the Mel-bourne-Geelong run. Captain. W. Forbes, as a boy, had seen tho vessel lying in tho Firth of FoHh, and wa» row, after having commanded the Athletic, of tho M'Mcvkin and Blackwood's iir.e,' on the Geclong service fur some years, given charge cf her. In this trade, and under Captain Forl)Cs'fl comn.and the Edina has, except for short intervals, remained ever since. The Edina. old as *ho is. is by no mean* done with. Within the next few weeks new boilers will be fitted, and the machinery subjected to a tlionui«h overhaul. This, it is believed, will .-.•; her light for twenty or twenty-live years to"come, so that it is unite possible thai the Edina will Ircomc a centenarian while in commission.