STEWART ISLAND TRADE

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 78, 27 December 1944, Page 4

STEWART ISLAND TRADE

Steamer Wairua Acquired Doi)ii NlON Special Service. INVERCARGILL, December 26. The steamer Wairua, which has arrived at Bluff to take over the running between Bluff and Stewart Island, is expected to provide passengers with a more comfortable crossing than have most ot the vessels that have maintained the service in the past across Foveaux Strait, which has a reputation for choppiness and roughness. A hold has been fit tea up as a spacious saloon for passengers. A sun deck 45ft. in width has been built across the after part of the vessel, lhe forehold has been refitted with cargo handling gear and will take about 190 tons of cargo. With accommodation for 350 passengers, the ship should be able to cope adequately with the holiday traffic, even at its. peak, between the mainland and the island. , . Biiilt in 1913 by G. T. Nichol. Auckland. the Wairua is a wooden twinscrew’ steamer of 352 tons. Ibe Kaipara Shipping Co’., for which the ship was built, employe?! her for many years in tile Helensville-Dargiiville cargo and passenger trade. ■ When the Kaipara company was merged in the Northern Shipping Co. the Wairua was used in Ute passeno‘er and cargo trade in mid round Auckland. She was taken over by the New Zealand Navy more than, two years ago. and work was begun in altering her for use as a naval vessel. The work was not completed, the naval authorities deciding that they would have no use for the vessel. For several months the Wairua was at a mooring at Purau Bay, Lyttelton harbour, till she was acquired recently for the Bluff-Stewart Island trade. .