NORTHERN COASTERS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 55, 3 September 1934, Page 13

NORTHERN COASTERS

THE NEW WAIOTAHI

The Atua, built and previously owned by Mr. G. T. Nieeol, of Auckland, has been bought by the Northern Steamship Co., Ltd., reports tho Auckland "Star." It is proposed to call the ship Waiotahi. This will perpetuate the name of the former Waiotahi, which ran from Auckland to Opotiki for many years under the company's flag.

Yesterday morning the Auckland waterfront had its first indication of the identity of the new owners when a gang of painters started to change the colour of the hull from light grey to dark green, as the new vessel was to leave today for Tauranga, and next week will bo put in the AucklandOpotiki service.

Built in 1932, tho Waiotahi is engined with two Fairbanks-Morse Diesels, each of 120 h.p., and her gross register is 207 tons. She is 1.16 ft overall, with a 25ft beam, and her loaded draught is 6ft. She is therefore specially suitable for trade in bar harbours of shallow draught. Her speed with a full 'load of 250 tons is nine knots, and she has special machinery for handling cargo. This is the last sizeable vessel built by Mr. Niccol before his yard was closed in 1932.

Since her launching in September, 1932, she has not been engaged in any service for Mr. Niccol. The motor vessel made one trip to Norfolk Island after her engines had been installed, and since then she has spent most of her time alongside the Port Building, at tho base of Central Wharf, Auckland. Two weeks ago she was slipped for cleaning and painting below the watcrline, and has been awaiting tho orders of her new owners.

For the last five years tho older Waiotahi has been at anchor iii "Rotten Row" in the Auckland Harbour, after 38 years of service. Sho was built in 1891 by the Abercorn Shipbuilding Company, Paisley. She is a stoel twinscrew steamer of 278 tons, 125 ft length, and 25ft beam. Her draught is Bft.

The old steamer was specially built for the Opotiki run, and after 30 years in that service sho was used for other trips. She was "pensioned off" a few years ago when the small motor vessels began to replace old steamers in coastal traffic.