THE PUTIKI

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 91, 18 April 1932, Page 6

THE PUTIKI

' NOW BEING DISMANTLED

OFFERED AS TARGET

The steamer Piitifcj, a -well-known member of Wellington's, "rotten ■ tow," is at> present being dismantled"' and will be offered as a target to the Navy. The: Putiki's gear will probably *be; put on to the steamer" Parera, belonging to the same company, Richardson and Co.', and the Parera will be laid up indefinitely at 'Wellington. ■-■■■•■ The Putiki, a single-screw- iron steamer, of 433 tons gross register^. wfls built in 1904 byl..Seagor.Bros., 4.ucHand. She is 150.4 ft in length,' 25.1ffc ih:;breadth,:' and 10.2 ft in depth. - When she was launched •the late Right Hon. R; J. .Seddon xel marked that if he had known such fine vessels could be built in. New Zealand he would have had the Janie Seddon and the Lady Roberts built here.. It is uncertain whether Mr. Seddon did not also refer to the Tutanekai on-this occasion. , The first owner of the Putiki was the Wellington-Wanganui Steam Packet Company, and-the. ship was run from Westportto ; Wanganui with coal, and frofia Wellington to Wanganui with'general cargo. She also carried passengers. In 1916 she had a new .funnel fitted, -and the .bridge extended forward. Extra cabin accommodation was fitted for passengers. The Putiki was able to carry 320 tons deadweight of coal,.and from 350 to 400 tons pf general cargo. In 1919 the vessel was bQUght by Putiki,. Ltd.,.arid was run in conjunction with the John.' Putiki, Ltd used the ship in the Dunedin-Wellington-Wanganui service, via ports; but she did not carry/ passengers. The Putiki was sold to Richardson and Co. in 1921 and tramped" round the New Zealand coast. She : was laid up at Wellington in July, 1929> but went into commission in January, 1930. She was laid, up at Wellington in the stream in 1930, and has been there ever since. , . •