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Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25208, 12 June 1947, Page 3

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OLD STEAMER’S VOYAGE “The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, June 11. Now only a shell, the former harbour steamer Duchess was towed from the Western Viaduct this morning on her last voyage. This afternoon she was beached in the haven of old ships, which lie on the northern side of Rangitoto Island. Since her purchase by Mr F. Appleton, of Penrose, from the War Assets Realisation Board for £5OO early last December, the old steamer has passed through the hands of the shipbreakers, who have removed everything for which use could be found. When she left harbour this morning little of her superstructure remained. The Duchess was built on the Clyde, and launched in 1896. She reached Wellington in 1897, and ran for many years on the Day’s Bay service. She was also often engaged to tew sailing ships, on occasions as far as Picton and Lyttelton. After arriving in Auckland in 1929 she was placed on the run to Kawau, and in November, 1931, inaugurated a regular passenger service to Matiatia and Kawau

In 1940 the Duchess was taken over by the Navy, first serving as a minesweeper. Later she was used as an examination ship. She also made several trips on naval work to islands in the Hauraki Gulf. 1 At the end of the war her owners, Messrs Watkin and Wallis, decided not to take possession of her again, and her disposal was left to the Government. When the Duchess was launched 51 years ago the sun was shining brightly. as a photograph on the wall of an Auckland shipping office shows. Today as she moved reluctantly down the harbour on the last of her many* voyages drizzling rain threatened to hide her from those who watched her go. -