WAKATERE'S LIFE ENDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 979, 23 May 1930, Page 12

WAKATERE'S LIFE ENDS

SOLD TO MACHINERY MERCHANT The end of the career of the o! ; paddle-steamer Wakaiere is very nea * The Northern Company has sold C to F. Appleton, machinery and timbf merchant, who, within the nexlife days, will take her from “rotten rou for scrap metal. The Wakatere was for 30 years - r the Auckland-Thames service, was laid up in the stream on Julv • 1926. She was built in 1596 at YoW Clyde, and on her trials she steamed • 16 knots. Her Maori no me mear* “swift canoe.” The gold-rush at Thames was primarily responsible for the NortherCompany’s decision to buy her whi;* she was yet on the stocks. She originally designed for the Isle of Mr packet service. Her voyage out made via Suez Canal and Torres Stra in 82 days, her actual steaming being 68 days. The late Captain W Farquhar, who had then been in tfc* company’s service for 27 years, brouth* her to Auckland. After some years in the Thames service, Captain Farquhar relinquished h;i command to his brother. Captinn A Farquhar. who was master for 18 yearCaptain E. McLeod was the vessel* skipper for her last few years of service. The Wakatere is a steel paddksteamer of 44L tons gross register, bui • by Napier, Shanks and Bell, of Glasgow. She is 210.3 feet long, by 26 f<* in breadth, and is engined by two developing 129 h.p. She j s to have her engines removed when ah« is brought to a berth early next week but her steel hull will be.sunk.