ANOTHER HULK GONE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 228, 25 September 1926, Page 13

ANOTHER HULK GONE.

THE ALEXANDER CRAIG. BURNT AT BROWN'S ISLAND.; END OF THE YOUNG BUNGAREE. i Another of Auckland's old coal hulks, the former Craig Line barque, Alexander Craig, took her final departure from I the port this morning at the end of a towline from the Auckland Launch and Towboat Co.'s steamer Simplon. Once put ashore at Brown's Island the hulk was set on fire, her old timbers burning slowly. The Alexander Craig, which was originally known as the Kathleen Hilda, was launched in Nova Scotia in 1891 and was engaged for several years in the trans-Pacific trade. In the late 'nineties she was purchased by the late Mr. J..J. Craig and renamed. Under her new ownership she engaged in the intercolonial trade, bringing coal from Newcastle to Auckland and taking timber from the Kaipara and Hokianga Harbours back to Sydney and Melbourne. When trading across the Tasman the barque was badly buffeted on more than one occasion, losing spars and suffering minor damage. In 1909 she made her last trip tinder sail, for in this year she was converted into a coal hulk* As she liad been afloat for only eighteen years she was a comparatively young ship. After beinp converted into a hulk, the Alexander Craig did much good service for the Northern Company until last year, when she became unfit for further use. She was condemned about five months ago. Beached at the Island. Until recently it was thought that the former sailer, winch was spending her last days in the hulk anchorage, would be towed to White Island to serve as a jetty. The project, however, fell through and this week it was definitely decided to oow the hulk to Brown's Island, where a former sister-hulk, the Defiance, is rotting. Accordingly tin's morning -ehe was taken in charge by the Simplon and towed down the harbour. On arrival at the island the Simplon took the hulk as near the land as possible before handing her over to the launch Jumbo, which completed the work, the old Alexander being made fast ashore on the south-eastern corner of the island. Finally the hulk was set alight, and this afternoon she was still burning slowly. Brown's Island is now a veritable graveyard of old ships. Only recently the tug Young Bungaree, whieii had bee n laid up after 43 years' service, was taken to the island and beached. Her timbers are now being taken out of her for use in fencing. Among the other vessels whose frames can be seen are the Northern Company's old steamer Kapanui, the ancient Tainui. and the former ferries Victoria and Takapuna.