HOODOO SHIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 630, 5 April 1929, Page 1

HOODOO SHIP

Maui Pomare Dogged by Misfortune NOTHING BUT TROUBLE "'J'HE Maui Pomare has been followed by a hoodoo ever since she was built,” said a shipping man to a Sun man this morning. The motor-ship Maui Pomare was built for the New Zealand Government by the Dublin Dockyard Company in 1928. She is a twin-screw ship with a gross tonnage of 1,159 tons, with a length of 210 ft and a breadth of 35ft. The first trouble to occur in connection with the ship was the suspension of Captain Cant, master of the Hinemoa, who was sent Home to bring her out. He was charged with failure to account for £l5O of the Government imprest money, and was imprisoned* for three months. MECHANICAL TROUBLE Chief-Officer Allen then took command and brought her to New Zealand. Outward bound the Maui Pomare was held up at Panama to undergo repairs to her machinery, and on arrival ai Auckland she was docked for further repairs. For docking and repairs at cord POrt Maui holds a re--5 000 to the islands about 0,000 cases of bananas were dumped at Sunday Islands owing to the refrigerattng machinery breaking down The from W T g ‘rAA 6 Vessel wa9 to sail from Auckland but was held up for four days as a result of the dovvn' ICal steering gear breaking On the trip before last the vessel had to put out of Apia stern first, leaving several thousand cases of bananas on the beach, which were later given to the natives. She was also unable to work Niue Island, and consequently the fruit which was picked was also left there. • ? n „ the last trip the vessel had to put into Auckland owing to the refrigerating machinery developing further defects. and the bulk of the fruit was sold here for a few pence a case. Going South the remainder of the overripe fruit was dumped and the balance was landed at Lyttelton in more or less over-ripe condition. I

To cap her misfortunes she is fow | more or less in a state of quarantine. 1