OLD MISSION SHIP

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 30 January 1933, Page 7

OLD MISSION SHIP

SOLD TO THE BREAKERS. HULL BEJNG STRIPPED. AUCKLAND, Jan. 29. The former Melanesian Mission steamer Southern Cross V is in the hands of ishipbreakers at Auckland. Since her last voyage from the New Hebrides in June 'of last year the vessel has lain at anchor in Auckland’s “rotten row” in Shoal Bay. When the -Southern Cross was of ierecl for sale in December six tend-' ers were received, the successful one being that of a firm of solicitors, acting on bhalf of the Auckland Ship breaking Company. | For the past fortnight three men have heen engaged m removing any useable- metal and fittings. The work is expected to occupy another three months. The fate of the hull is not yet settled. The plates, which are unusually thick may be cut up .for the metal they contain. If that is. not done, the hull will be towed outside the lOcTfalhoms limit and sunk. The Southern Gross V, -a steamer of 680 tons, was built in England in 1903 by Armstrong, Whitworth and E*JTffpanv at a cost of about £21,000. For 29 years the vessel made periodical visits, twice a year, from Auckland to mission stations over a distance of about 2000 miles in the south-west Pacific. On each cruise about 150 calls were made. The steamer’s successor, Southern Cross VI, a motor-ship built in England last year, encountered disaster on November 2, seven days alter leaving' Auckland on her first and last voyage to the Solomon Islands, the ship was wrecked on a reef on the Island of Aneityum, in the Loyalty Group. A new vessel to replace the lost motor-ship i;s to he built in England. —“Dominion’’ Service.