RANGATIRA NEARING END OF RUN

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30913, 20 November 1965, Page 24

RANGATIRA NEARING END OF RUN

Press” Special Service WELINGTON, Nov. 19. The Rangatira, veteran of the Union Steam Ship Company’s fleet, now touching her thirty-fifth year of service, has only 13 more round trips to make in the Welling-ton-Lyttelton steamer ex- , press service before bowing out to the Maori, converted , into a roll-on, roll-off vessel. Although the Rangatira is not yet up for sale, several interested parties have had - a look over her in recent 1 weeks and the latest potential j buyers are a group of s Australians, now at Welling- • ton. It is well known that the ■ old ship has by no means , reached the end of her use- - fulness. She is still sound t and another owner could J obtain years of successful trading from her. ) The Rangatira will make r her last trip in the ferry ser- - vice on a run from Lyttelton on December 15. On

■ arrival .at Wellington next i day she will be withdrawn j • and her place on the service | will be taken by the Maori. ; It is expected both the i : sailing to Lyttelton and then i • back will be well patronised. I [ Many persons and a man- i time organisation arranging party bookings for the | ’ voyage, are planning to go i ’ in her. No date has been set for I : the disposal of the Rangaj tira. There are the complica- [ ttons of the Wahine delay. Latest reports say that it is ; now unlikely the Wahine will : be ready for the Easter traf- . tie, and there is talk in shipping circles that she may , not be ready until July. . When she joins the Maori ’ in the service, the Union I Company will withdraw the I Hinemoa, the future of I which has not yet been decided. > It is likely that, along . with the Rangatira, she will . be sold. i