TRADING IN THE PACIFIC

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26122, 26 May 1950, Page 9

TRADING IN THE PACIFIC

AUCKLAND SCHOONER PURCHASED CO-OPERATIVE COMPANY’S VENTURE “The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, May 25. The 56-year-old auxiliary schooner Huia. which many years ago ran between Lyttelton and Kaipara, will soon re-enter active service. She has been purchased by a co-operative concern, the Huia Trading Company, for use in the Pacific Islands. Built on the Kaipara in 1894 for the Australian-New Zealand timber and coal trades, the Huia spent the last 37 years of her active life carrying explosives from Victoria to New Zealand in the service of the Nobel 'Australasia) Proprietary, Ltd. For the last 15 months the schooner has been laid up at moorings in Shoal Bay awaiting a purchaser. The Huia Trading Company is still in its formative stage. It is modelled on the Tasman Steamship Company, a syndicate of former servicemen in Auckland. The chief shareholder will be Captain N. W. Thomas, but the allocation of the othei' shares has yet to be decided. It is expected, however, that all the men on board, including those before the mast, will have a stake in the ship. Some time next month, it is hoped, the shin will sail for Suva. Copra, the staple product of many Pacific islands, will probably be the Huia’s main cargo in the next few years. Other cargoes, i however, also figure in the company’s plans. Although most of this trade will be between island groups, it is certain that Auckland has not seen the last of a very graceful ship which has been on the local registry for many years. Extensive Repairs Repairs to the schooner have been extensive and have been going on for some time. On the. slipway a number of unsound planks were removed from her hull and replaced and a complete new sheathing of copper now covers her below the water-line. At the stern, in a place where the old sheathing did not quite correspond with the waterline. several planks were found well riddled by the teredo worm, but the rest of her hull was fairly sound. The Huia was built of heart kauri and is still sound. Captain Thomas said: "She is good for another 30 years of hard work, at least.” The nlanks are all 2in thick. Above the/ water-line the ship is being just as thoroughly checked, and a new suit of sails will be provided. The schooner rig will be retained. As an auxiliary, the Huia has a Diesel engine developing about 154 horsepower. A powerful radio is to be fitted and it will be operated by a malified member of the crew. Built on the Northern Wairoa River in 1894 by Mr James Barbour, the Huia made her first voyages in the Tasman timber trade, loading coal at Newcastle for the return journey. She soon proved to be one of the fastest sailing ships on the Tasman and her record from Knobby light. Newcastle, to Kaipara light of 4 days 16 hours still stands. Site was next in the KaiparaLyttelton trade, where she established a round-trip record of 11 days, including time in port. The schooner’s 110 ft keel was cut from one kauri log '.nd all the timber in her was of best quality. She was named after the now extinct native bird.