HER LAST VOYAGE

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1925, Page 2

HER LAST VOYAGE

—o S.S. TAKAPENA SCETTLED. The steamer Takapuna, tormeriy owned by the Union Steam Ship Company, and bought by ship.breakers some months ago, was towed to sea from Wellington last. Thursday and sunk in Cook Strait. The vessel hud been stripped, and was merely an empty shell when the tng Cowan took her in tow at 7.55 a.m. Tim Taka, puna was taken out to about eight ■miles south by east a half east of the Wellington Heads. Two charges of explosives were attached to time fuses. The men aboard lighted the fusts and then transferred to the Cowan, which was right alongside the doomed vessel. There was a moderate southerly swell at the time. The Cowan stood off at about .100 yards’ distance.- The I first charge boomed, and the laka. puna shortly after commenced to settle Stern first. Tim second ehttrge sent up a. volume of smoke through tlm vessel’s skylights. Tim ship now filled quickly,'and within ten minutes ol the Ting of the first charge she sbpped Imneath the waves stern downwards. Sim finally disappeared at l.mj I'”'-