TRADE IN THE EAST

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 123, 27 May 1933, Page 15

TRADE IN THE EAST

ANOTHER VESSEL 1 SOLD

UNION COMPANY'S .WAITOMO

It was announced in Auckland yesterday that the Union Steam Ship Company's freighter Waitoino, which, has been laid up off Orakei for nearly five years, has been sold to Eastern buyers. This is the second New Zealand vessel to be sold within a short time, the Kurow, after nearly two years of idleness, having been bought by the Mollcr Line of Shanghai. It is not yet known whether tho Waitomo is to go to Japan or China. Tho Waitomo was built at Newcastle-on-Tyne by the' Northumberland Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., and was launched in 1911. She was originally named tho Gifford, and was a vessel of 4214 tons gross. She was chiefly, engaged in the Nowcastlo coal trade when running for the Union Company, and she also made a number of voyages to Nauru and Ocean Islands for. cargoes of phosphates. One of the most exciting incidents in the Waitomo's career occurred in the winter of 1928, when the.ship broke her tail shaft whilo bound from Newcastle to Bluff with a cargo of coal, says the "Auckland Star." A terrific racing of tho engines on the morning of July 23 was.the first warning that the crew received, and the ship immediately lost way and began to drift before a Ueavy south-west gale. The position, of the freighter at the-.time was approximately 430 miles west of Westport. SOS messages wcro scut out, and * tho Union Company made hasty arrangements for the picking up of the helpless vessel. It happened that at the time of the Waitomo's breakdown the Kaitokc, another Union freighter, was at Westport, and this vessel was ordered to go to the rescue of the cripped ship. By tho aid of I wireless and capable navigation, the Kaitoke had .no difficulty in locating her sister ship, and on tho evening of July 25, sixty hours after th c . breaking of; the tail shaft, the Waitomo was taken in tow. On August 3,' eleven days and a half after the'mishap, the Waitomo was towed into Auckland. After discharge of her coal cargo the steamer was dry docked and a new tail shaft was, fitted. With her repairs completed, the Waitomo was ready for sea again, but she was not destined to re-enter. her old trade. At that time the shipping companies were beginning to feel tho first i pinch of the depression, and it - was decided that the freighter should be laid up. Accordingly she was taken to an anchorage in. the harbour, where she has remained ever since. Details of the Waitomo V future will probably bo made public on Monday, when a representative of her new owners will reach Auckland from Sydney by, tho B.M.S. Monowai., No fewer than thirteen Union Company freighters have been acquired; by Eastern buyers during the past 'fewyears. The Waipori, Whangape, Karori, Koromiko, Kittawa, and Kauri were all sold in 1928, the Kaitangata and Kaiapoi in 1929, the Kaituna and Kamona in 1931, .and the Waitemata, Kurow, and'Waitomo this y.ear. j