IONIC’S LAST TRIP

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1936, Page 5

IONIC’S LAST TRIP

BEFORE BEING BROKEN lIP

(Per Press Association—Copyright).

WELLINGTON, November 11

Many memories are treasured of the old Shaw Savill liner, lonic, which arrived at Wellington this morning on her last visit to the port before- sne is broken up. A letter conveying the best wishes for the future to the owners, officers and crew of the “good old lonic” has been received by the Company from a former woman passenger, now living at Whangarei. “It is exactly 25 years ago this week since she landed us in Wellington, una what a happy trip we bed!” she wrote.

The passing of the lonic signifies the disappearance from New Zealand of the last of “the three graces” of ships, the Corinthic. and Athenic having been retired, the last-named being converted into a whaler-factory ship, and the Corinthic going to the shipbreakers. The opportuntv was taken to-day of the call, to hold an entirely informal fnrwell luncheon on hoard the lonic, quite a domestic affair, the hosts being the Shaw Savill Company’s Wellington office, represented by Mr James Findlay, who has just returned from London; Mr E. V. Bevan and Captain H. P. Thurston, Commander of the lonic. Regret was expressed at the departure of so popular a vessel but as Sir Alexander Roberts pointed out, her term of usefulness was not really ended for the materials of which she was constructed would pass into service when the breakers had done with her.