THE OLD MOKOIA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20625, 5 August 1941, Page 6

THE OLD MOKOIA

HER FINAL SERVICE TO BE BROKEN FOR SCRAP The last vessel of the Carey’s Bay “Rotten Row,” the hulk Molcoia, is about to furnish a useful contribution to New Zealand’s war effort, states the Otago Times. Recently this once popular intercolonial passenger iiner was handed over to "the Department of Industries and Commerce by the Otago Harbour Board as a contribution to the war effort, and in a few days probably will be lying once more alongside a wharf at Port Chalmers preparatory to being broken for scrap metal.

The Mokoia was built in 1893 for the Union Steamship Company. Limited, and was then a smart passenger vessel that became popular with travellers on the Dunedin-Auckland-Syd-ney run. Later, she made a special trip to the South Sea Islands and commenced the Wellington-Papeete service, which later developed into the Wellington-San Francisco run. The Mokoia was of 3502 tons, and was regarded as an up-to-date ship in the early part of the century. In February, 1930, the vessel was taken over by the Otgao Harbour Board as a gift from the Union Company, and the following year was placed in position at Carey’s Bay to become a mooring vessel to which other ships might be tied so as to relieve congestion at Port Chalmers. The ship was anchored in position and then sunk, and for many years has been a familiar sight, at Carey’s Bay. Arrangements have been made :by the Harbour 'Board to raise the hulk and transfer it to a Port Chalmers wharf. The old hulk must contain a large amount of metal plating of considerable value in the country’s war effort, and it is understood that steps will be taken at the earliest opportunity to break her up for this purpose.