GHOSTS OF THE PAST

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 94, 15 January 1932, Page 10

GHOSTS OF THE PAST

Fate of Coal-hulks

OLD-TIME TRADERS Over Sixty Years’ Service Owing to the slackness of the coal trade, the Union Company has decided to lay up three of its coal hulks—the Helen Denny, Dilpussund and Ganymede, as an economy measure. The Helen Denny and Dilpussund were taken round to Evans Bay on Tuesday, and the Ganymede will probably join them to-day. They have been anchored near the Patent Slip Wharf, and are to remain there indefinitely.

In addition to the slackness In' the coal trade, the falling away in both the coastal and overseas cargo trades has necessitated the laying-up of many ships. The Increase in the number of motor-ships and of steamers converted to oil-burners has also affected the coal trade, and this led to the position that there are at present more coal hulks in service at Wellington than are required. i

Helen Denny Once a Clipper.

All hulks are licensed annually by the Harbour Board, and must carry a hulk-keeper. The licenses expired on December 31 last, and in order to cut doWn expenses, the Union Company decided to lay up the three mentioned above out of their fleet of about a dozen coal hulks.

Launched In November, 1866, at Glasgow, the Helen Denny was for many years owned by Shaw, Savltl and Company, who employed her In the emigrant-carrying and general cargo trade between Britain and New Zealand. She once ran from the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope to New Zealand in 23 days, a remarkable performance for a small iron barque. She was eventually sold by Shaw, Savlll and Company, and was subsequently acquired by the late Captain F. Holm, of Wellington. She then sailed regularly in the intercolonial trade, with coal from Newcastle and timber from New Zealand, until the end of 1913, being commanded during her latter days at sea by Captain S. Holm, a son of Captain F. Holm. She was finally sold and converted Into a coal-hulk at Wellington. The hull of the old ship is still remarkably well preserved in spite of 66 years of hard service. Wood and Iron. The Dilpussund, built well over 60 years ago, was a “composite” vessel—that is to say, she was of wood, built on to iron frames. • Of about 600 tons, she had a long and comparatively uneventful career, first as a general trader and finally in the intercolonial trade. For some years she sailed under the German flag as the Europa, and finally returned to British registry under her original name as a trader between New Zealand and Australia. The GAnymede was an iron barque of 586 tons gross register, ' built at Sunderland, and launched in January, 1868. In her early days the little, ship was a general trader, and made more than one voyage between England and New Zealand. About 1898 she was purchased by the late Mr. W. S. Waterston, of Invercargill, who ran her in the intercolonial trade for years, until she was finally sold and converted into a coal hulk.