Cabins From Wreck 75 Years Ago Still Used

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31576, 13 January 1968, Page 5

Cabins From Wreck 75 Years Ago Still Used

iSpeclallu written for “The Press" by ROSALEEN O’DONOHUE) Three cabins from a steamer wrecked 75 years ago are still being used on a farm at Ruapuna, about 25 miles south-west of Ashburton. The cabins were the smokeroom, chartroom and wheelhouse of the 4579-ton Elginshire which ran aground about four miles south of Timaru, about three miles from where the 10,000ton freighter, Treneglos, grounded in 1964.

The Elginshire grounded in dense fog about 5 a.m. on March 9, 1892. The steel steamer was on her maiden voyage. She got inside the reef south of Bloody Jack’s point, and opposite the Normandy bridge and railway station.

She was steaming so close to the coast that, at one stage, the officers on board were able to ask a railway worker on the shore for directions. He gave them their position, but the vessel grounded on the rocks little more than a stone’s throw from the beach, with her bow turned seaward. Hundreds of persons drove out from Timaru and were able to talk to those on board. Unsuccessful attempts by three tugs and traction engines were made to move the ship into deep water. The Elginshire carried a cargo of 11,000 carcases of frozen mutton and 300 bales of wool from Oamaru. Part of the frozen cargo was salvaged and the steamer was later abandoned to the underwriters. An inquiry later found that the ship’s master had made an error of judgment. The captain’s certificate and those of all his officers were returned. Cabins Bought' When the Elginshire was dismantled, the late Mr John Ballantyne bought the smokeroom, chartroom and wheelhouse. From 1878 to 1892, Mr Ballantyne bought more than 4000 acres of land at Ruapuna. It was in four blocks. He built a house on one and a manager and a shepherd were on two of the other blocks.

Using a waggon and pair, Mr Ballantyne used to drive with his wife from Timaru to Ruapuna for week-ends. It

is said that he bought the cabins because he was not allowed to smoke inside the house. One account is that Mr Ballantyne had the three cabins taken to Ealing by rail and from there to Ruapuna on a trailer towed by a traction engine or by horses and waggon. Another is that he had them transported the 40-odd miles from Timaru by a waggon drawn by a team of horses.

He built them on to his house at Ruapuna and had a sloping iron roof put over the three cabins. This provided a little attic above the original flat roofs. Mr Ballantyne’s estate was taken over by the Government on August 16. 1910, for land settlement. The 4426 acres was divided into 14 blocks. The land containing the house and cabins was the twelfth block and was the home of the Drake family for about six years. Upholstered Seats Mr T. F. Drake used one of the cabins for his photographic work, and it is believed the smokeroom and chartroom remained as they were. He detached the cabins from the homestead, as they caused too much shade. The late Mr G. W. Ross and Mrs Ross (who lives in Ashburton) were the next owners of the property. They took it over about 1918. The smokeroom had upholstered seats around the walls, but these had deteriorated and were later removed, Mrs Ross remembers. The room was used as a man’s bedroom and the other cabins were eventually converted into a storeroom and a dairy. Mrs Ross still has a magnificent mahogany chest taken from the chart room. It is 6ft 2in in length and 3ft lOin deep. The top measures 2ft 3in across but unfolds to almost double that and was probably used as a chart table. The chest has four large drawers and a small door,

which, when opened, reveals a washbasin, ready for use. When Mr and Mrs Ross retired to live in Ashburton in June, 1951, Mr and Mrs D. M. Whillans, the present owners, bought the property. After 75 years, the chartroom is a storeroom, the smokeroom is an extra bedroom and the electric pump is in the wheel-house. The three cabins are joined together about 60 yards from the house, which is the original homestead built by Mr Ballantyne. The cabins are “waterproof, mouseproof and very cosy,” according to Mrs Williams. The smokeroom is panelled in birds-eye maple and is in good condition. The wheelhouse is mahogany and ail the floors are of teak. The portholes have glass almost an inch thick. Portholes In Hen House There are signs of other parts of the ship on the property—some cabin panels make up the hen house, with portholes which can be opened! There is also what apears to be the top of the dining saloon, made mainly of glass. A window bears a coat-of-arms, with the motto “May Glasgow Flourish." The room was used as a conservatory for many years but is now overgrown. Not far away from the house is an avenue of trees about a quarter of a mile long. It was the original driveway. The avenue is at present blocked with fallen trees and branches, but Mr and Mrs Whillans have plans to clear it Some of the trees are believed to be rare. They were brought from England by Mr Ballantyne. Footnote:— A saloon table from the Elginshire is in the Timaru museum. Timber from the ship was used in the construction of houses at Adair and surrounding districts.