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Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 16, 13 October 1927, Page 5

A . correspondent—“Bo’sun’s Mate”— writing to the “Otago Daily Times" with reference to the rusty, dilapidated hulls of three Red Funnel steamers swinging at their moorings in the lower reaches of Otago Harbour, says: “The sight of these old-time ehips brings back pleasant memories. There is the once favourite inter-colonial passenger steamer Paloona, which has long since made her last deep-sea voyage. She was a stately vessel when I witnessed her arrival at Auckland 28 years ago on her maiden voyage from Sydney, under the name of Zealandia,' and flying the house-flag of the Huddart, Parker Company. How well I remember the reception held on board to celebrate the arrival of such a well-appointed ship. Also riding to the harbour swell is the staid Mokoia, another well-known in-ter-colonial passenger carrier during the early part of the century. I also(, witnessed the arrival of "this vessel at Auckland in 1898 on her maiden voyage from. Scotland, by way of Sydney. Memories of many pleasant voyages along the east coast between Auckland and Dunedin are revived when the name Tarawera is mentioned. Here again a notable old passenger, and later a. purely cargo carrier, has found a restin'* place on the end of fore and aft cables. What the Tarawera’s ultimate finish will .be no one can forecast? Visit the Union Company’s wharf at Port Chalmers, and one will see the dilapidated shell of an, other once notable San Francisco end inter-colonial passenger carrier. . This is the Moana—a beautiful ship in her palmy days, but now only a hollow shell, as all her elaborate fittings have been removed. The old ship’s days are numbered, as she will shortly find a last resting place at the Mole just; inside the entrance to Otago Harbour. One regrets the passing of these oldtimers, but, like the sailing ship of the early days, and they had their period of usefulness, and must, make way for the more modern ships.