AUCKLAND'S FIRST STEAMER

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 42, 17 August 1935, Page 28

AUCKLAND'S FIRST STEAMER

After referring to the recent article -published in these columns on the first steamer built in New Zealand, Mr. M. Crompton-Smith writes as follows:— "Possibly the following extract from the reminiscences of my father, the late S. Percy Smith, F.R.G.S., may be of interest also, though as he is writing of the date 1860 his description of a 'first' steamer is.doubtless in that description wrong. . ■,-' -.:■-'■■ ■" 'Whilst .we-lived.in.StGeocge's ßay

we saw the wreck of the first steamer built in Auckland, the City of Auckland, a boat of about 100 tons, built by Tizard Brothers on the North Shore. i She was built for the Coromandel trade, and a story is related of her that after taking a whole day' to steam down to Drunken Bay, some twelve miles, they decided to anchor for the night, but found they had no anchor on board. So with a genius which did them credit they took the boiler out and used it for. an anchor! " 'After an adventurous voyage the steamer returned and anchored off St. George's Bay, when there came on one of those furious north-east gales which were common in Auckland in those days, but which seem now to have ceased. During the gale the steamer drifted; ashore and broke up, the wreckage piling up at our front gate.' "This must, however, be a later boat than that described in your columns."