Wairua
Sir, —There was an interesting article in this morning’s “Press,” by Naylor Hillary, about Stewart Island. The islanders apparently bemoan the fact that the Department of Conservation more or less runs the island now; and also that they miss their former ferry, the Wairua. Just over three years ago, the Wairua was withdrawn from service. The reasons given were that she was “too old,” “uneconomical” and due for the scrap heap. Only two years prior to her final departure from the Bluff, the old Wairua underwent a very extensive, expensive overhaul at Lyttelton. Yet the Minister of Marine of the day, Mr Richard Prebble, said “she has to go,” or words to that effect, only two years later. Now we see the old girl surfacing again in Western Samoa; doing a 600-mile round trip to the Tokelau Islands every few weeks! Not bad, eh? Still going strong, apparently! Another “Strange Tale of the Sea”? — Yours, etc., B. J. WILLIAMS. March 28, 1989.
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Press, 5 April 1989, Page 18
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163Wairua Press, 5 April 1989, Page 18
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