SHIPPING HISTORY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 264, 7 November 1931, Page 10

SHIPPING HISTORY.

HUDDART-PARKER'S ENTRY.

OLD LINERS RECALLED

WARRIMOO AND MIOTVERA,

(By W.H.P.)

The Huddart-Parker Company made its initial bow to the New Zealand public during the year 1892, when the challenge to the Union Company was heralded by the arrival in the Waitemata of those two handsome and well-appointed steamers the Warrimoo and Miowera. The new vessels were sister ships of 352S tons gross, carrying three masts and. oval smokestacks, the latter emblazoned with the familiar sign of the Southern Cross. They created intense {interest on the waterfront, and thousands of Aucklanders paraded the wharves (when the steamers were in port. As may | be imagined, the Union Company lost I no time in completing preparations to J deal with the opposition, and the Mararoa and Rotomahana were thoroughly overhauled and put in fighting trim for the ensuing battle. Citizens will recall the bitter campaign that was carried on until the Huddart-Parker ships were withdrawn from the New Zealand trade and placed in the Brisbane-Vancouver j service, which they maintained for some years in conjunction- with the old New Zealand Shipping Company's liner Aorangi. Fares and freight's were lowered to a ridiculous level, the cost of the return trip to Sydney was practically within reach of everyone desirous of a sea voyage, and New Zealanders took full advantage of the cut-throat competition while it lasted. At one time a passenger could book a saloon passage from Dunedin to Sydney, via the usual East Coast ports and Auckland, returning to Dunedin by the same route, for somewhat less than a five-pound note. The single saloon fare for the 3J days' run across the Tasman at the present time costs the passenger £11 by the Ulimaroa, £12 10/ Maunganui, and £15 if one wishes to .travel on the Niagara, while still another £1 has to be found if the steamer selected happens to be the t.s.m.s. Aorangi. After tlie Brisbane-Vancouver service was abandoned, tlie Union Company- took over the. Warrimoo and Mio-,

wera, and placed them- in the Sydney-Auckland-Dunedin service. The former vessel was eventually sold to South African buyers, but 'the' Miowera (renamed Maitai) was a constant visitor to Auckland, and carried the Union Company's flag for many years. She- was totally wrecked on. a coral reef at Tahiti on a voyage from San Francisco to Wellington. Maitai's Unique Experience.

A most unusual, happening-—probably unique in the annals, of shipping—was experienced by the Maitai many years •ago . when she . was ■ proceeding from Napier to Gisborne • on. her. usual northward run from Dunedin- ! Shortly, after the hour of midnight had been sounded on the ship's, bell, an immense column of water rose up. front the sea right alongside the vessel aiid crashed on; her deck. The Maitai,promptly heeled over until her masts were only a few feet from tne water, passengers on the port side were thrown out of their bunks and many'sustained severe bruises. The bioswinging 1 port holes in the saloon , happened to be open at the time and torrents of water poured into the vessel, flooding all the saloon cabins on the starboard side. To make matters worse the electric wires fused .and'set fire to the woodwork around the switchboards. The stewards spent the remainder of the night in bailing out the cabins and col-j lecting passengers' belongings, which had' been washed into the alleyways. VThej bai was practically wrecked and'crockerv I was in short supply at the breakfast | table next morning. The upheaval was caused by a submarine earthquake and the Maitai . had the ill-fortune. to be right in the track of it.

The Tasmania. ■•Following the withdrawal of the Warrimoo and Miowera, the ruinous competition came to an abrupt end, and a new scale of • fares and freights was decided upon. The next new vessel to reach Auckland was that fine ship, the Tasmania, with gross burden of ,2300 tons, built in 1892, and commanded by Captain McGee. The Tasmania has often been described as a "little beauty," and was a hot favourite with the travelling public. Her saloon was situated amidships, on the main promenade deck, and passengers were loud in their praises, of the steamer's sea-going qualities and elaborate appointments. - After running in the inter-colonial, service for some years, the company decided to enlarge the smoking room and carry out other interior alterations to the vessel and she was withdrawn' for three months. Her running was. temporarily - taken, by. the"

Brirrumbeet, an old steamer of 2420 tons, • built in 188:5. r When the Tasmania reappeared in .the Waitemata she was practically a- new ship, the alterations ; having' cost ,the company a very la!',- 1 ' sum. The vessel was a day late in l? av ing- Sydney and departure for Soiitlu'in ports had to be postponed from tac usual sailing time on Tuesday afternoon until. Wednesday night. -She made a la*' run-down; the coast to Gisborne, dealing that port before midnight for NapiciIn endeavouring to make up lost tmie, Captain, McGee cut the coast, too hue and the Tasmania struck a rock at the extreme end of the Mahia Peninsula., eventually becoming a total wreck. The Anglian. .' Thc" r loss of a fine ship like the Ta s . mania was a: very serious matter for ll Huddart-Parker Company. Pending >eplacement, the old Burrumbeet agai'j took up the running for a time, , 1 " 1 ' the Anglian arrived from AfWj This ship was undoubtedly the "joke «• the Huddart-Parker fleet, her ungainly appearance causing merriment on-the waterfrunt. She h f< the'record for the slower-it passage f' o,ll Sydney to Auckland —just on six da.o--port to port. The Anglian, which uas in charge of Captain Ilood, did not icmain long in the Xew- Zealand trade, 'being .withdrawn after a short time ami laid up in Sydney Harbour, j Wreck or Elingamite. This vessel, one of the compan}» I older steamers, made many visits t0 I Auckland before she was wrecked at t' R Three Kings on Sunday morning, November !),.1902. She was carrying about 1» ■passengers and crew at tlic time, anthe majority of those on board got » ,u ' the boats and rafts, but a few we" drowned at the Wreck. A boat contain ing 52 survivors reached Houhora »»• day. and six vessels were promptly patched to search for other surviy A party of 78 were picked off the Mil' King, and a further 11 off the on Tuesday afternoon. One i«;which started from the wreck with men and -one-woman on board, y picked up by H.M.s. Penguin four da. later; after having drifted over 60 rnib' The raft was without provisions or win' and when the Penguin arrived tl 1 Woman, who was a stewardess on tl' steamer, and three of the men had die while four other men became demcnteand jumped overboard. Altogether-'-* lives were lost, including a number men who were coining to Auckland 1 take up positions with the old electtram company,, which commenced opera tions a few weeks later. (To. be concluded.)