MISHAP TO KENNEDY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19513, 9 January 1929, Page 14

MISHAP TO KENNEDY.

HULL BADLY DAMAGED. On November 18th the coastal steamer Kennedy ran aground on the beach at Foxton, and for days she remained higli and dry, says the "Post." Many attempts were made to float her, but owing to the position of the ship the work j»roved very difficult, and it was not until December 11th that she finally cleared the sand-bank. After such a mishap it is necessary to have a ship inspected, and for this purpose she was brought to Wellington and placed on the Patent Slip. It was then found that her hull had been severely strained, and that the plates had been badly dented in the .vicinity of tho fore hold and under tlic boiler and engine rooms. During the past few weeks tho Kennedy has been left on the slip, and no attempt has yet been made to repair tho damage. It is understood that it will take a considerable amount of money to render tho old ship seaworthy agaiu, and that no decision has yet been reached on the part of her owners, the Manawatu Shipping Company, whether to scrap her or spend the necessary money. Built of iron by the Australian Steam Navigation Company of Sydney in 18C5, the Kennedy is the oldest steamer in tho New Zealand coastal trade, and, with the exception of the Australian steamer Edinn, is the oldest steamship on the British Kegister. She has twin steam engines constructed by Messrs Fraser and Tinne, of Auckland. For many years she was used as a passenger ship' on the West Coast trade by tho Anchor Shipping Company, and was then sold to her present owners, who have employed her in the Foxton trade. The great increaso in motor traffic during the past few years has had a very serious effect on the Foxton trade, however, and it is likely that the old ship will soon be given her well-earned rest after 63 years of continuous service.