A SHIP'S BURIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 40, 17 February 1931, Page 9

A SHIP'S BURIAL

MARAROA SENT TO REST

RAPID SINKING

The last chapter in the history of the pioneer passenger steamer Mararoa was enacted yesterday, when her remains wore taken out into Cook Strait and scuttled in 142 fathoms of water. The Mararoa's end was a long time in coming, and there have beeu appeals from many parte of the Dominion that, for sentimental reasons, some use should be found for the hull so that old associations could be preserved. There were many' difficulties in the way of putting these suggestions into effect, however, and, after many of her fittings had been removed to help in the equipping of the new Monowai, and anything else that was saleable disposed off by public auction, the Mararoa waited only for a calm day on which she could safely be towed to her burial place. Showing the ravages of time, which had marked her from stem to stern during the three and a half years she lay idle and neglected,' stripped of everything useful or ornamental, and with her holds filled with rubbish, the aged Mararoa was hard to recognise as the trim steamer that was the pride of the Union Company's intercolonial fleet nearly half a century ago, and which for over forty years was a favourite witjh passengers travelling between Australian' and New Zealand ports.

FUNERAL POSTPONED.

Even when everything was in rcadinoss for her last voyage, ana the day promised to be all that was desired, her jend had to bo deferred, lor no sooner [had she reached the Heads last Thursday morning than a strong southerly sprang up and she had to be brought back t» port. A vessel of the size of the Mararoa, wholly incapable of helping herself, and with a thick growth of barnacles on her hull impeding her progress, is a risky tow in a rough sea. In addition, men are left on board to look after the explosives, and they have to be taken off before the ship is scuttled. Yesterday the conditions were ideal, and shortly before 11 a.m. the Union Company's tug Terawhiti left the tug wharf for' the Clyde Quay Wharf, whore she took the doomed Bteamor in tow and led her out into the Strait. Three blasts from tho Government steamer Jinvie Seddon's siren bade farewell to the Maroroa as she was passing down the harbour, and the cargo liner Port Pirie, inward bound, was met oil Pencarrow, but otherwise tho blue sea was left to tho Mararoa and her escort.

Shortly boforo 3 o'clock the chosen place was reached, the long tow-line was taken on board tho Torawhiti, everything was put in readiness for discharging the explosives that were to hasten her end, tho three, men on board were taken oil, with tho wire to connect with tho electric battery on the tug, and at 4.15 p.m. tho charge was fired.

Ninety pounds of gelignite -were distributed in three sections in tho hull to make certain that a hole would be torn in each of her compartments, and as the explosion shook the vessel a dense cloud of smoke rose high into the air. Smoke continued to escape as the ship settled down by tho stern. She sank rapidly in between threo and a, half and four minutes, the bows had disappeared beneath the waves, leaving only some pieces of timber and rubbish to mark the spot.

Thu Mararoa now lies in 14" fathoms beneath the surface, at a spot 41deg. 27imin. south, latitude 174deg. !58Jmiii. east longitude.