PALMY DAYS OF GOLD

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6812, 16 January 1929, Page 8

PALMY DAYS OF GOLD

Old Steamer Kennedy

PASSENGERS FOR DIGGINGS

PREVENTION OF OVERCROWDING.

The fires beneath the boilers of the old coastal steamer Kennedy are dead —her blackened bull rides gently on the sheltered waters of Wellington Harbour. Tho casual glance of ail idler on the wharf is attracted for a moment by her deserted appearance. Over half a century has passed away since the okl steamer began to trade ou the New Zealand coast, says the Evening Post. There are only a few who pause for a moment to reflect on the romance attached to the life of New Zealand’s oldest steamer, which is now awaiting a decision from her owners that will in all probability send lier to her doom. Should that decision be made the last link with the early days of New Zealand’s coastal shipping will fall away, for the Kennedy is not only t.he oldest steamer in tho Dominion, but. with the exception of the Australian steamer Edina, is the oldest steamship on the British Register. The Kennedy arrived at Nelson on October 7th., 1565, on her maiden voyage from Sydney. In those days she was a three-masted twin-screw steamer rigged fore and aft, and fitted with a centreboard. For some time sao was principal!v between Wellington, Nelson and the West Coast. The ship proved very popular with passengers, and in conjunction with the Murray, Charles Edward, Wallace and Lyttelton, maintained a Tegular service to Westport and Hokitika. In later years she proved an excellent ship for the West Coast cargo trade, as she could carry about 200 tons deadweight on a draught of Bft. 6in. In September, 1919, the Kennedy was purchased by the Manawatu Steam Ship Company. When she was first placed in the Foxton-Wcllington service by her new owners trade was brisk, but in recent rears cargoes have become increasingly bare! to find, and it was later decided to transfer the old ship to the Foxton-Lyttolton Tun. Up to the. time of her mishap on the Foxton beach last November tho Kennedy continued to run between those two ports, and made an occasional trip to Wellington.

The West Coast Gold Rush,

The Kennedy was first owned in New Zealand by Messrs N. Edwards and Company, of Nelson, but after some years the company was formed into the Anchor Lino of Steam Packets, which was entirely owned by the late Mr J. Svmons, of Nelson. On his death tho line was converted into the Anchor Shipping Company, and in 1901 this company gave way to the present Anchor Shipping and Foundary Company, Ltd. The most interesting period of the Kennedy’s history is that connected with the gold rushes to the West Coast from Nelson in the “sixties” and “seventies.” Trip after trip the vessel was filled by as many as could stand on her decks or hang on to her lower riggings—there were no Govern:ment regulations as to the maximum number of passengers to bo carried in those days. It was a hopeless task to moor the ship at the wharf in the usual way, as the men would swarm over the ship’s sides in an attempt- to ensure their passage to the West Coast. To meet the situation tho vessel was anchored off the wharf and a narrow plank was placed across the intervening years. In this way only one man at a time was able to board the ship. Even then It was quite a common occurrence to have over 200 passengers when the vessel put out to sea. Besides carrying passengers the Kennedy took a nionthV shipment of gold from Hokitika to Nelson, and once carried as much as JO.OOOozs. of gold, valued at well over £160,000. On several occasions the Kennedy ran ashore at Greymouth and Hokitika, and was left high and dry above tho high-water line. Each time it was possible to relaunch the ship by placing her on greased skids and slipping her back into the water. Stopping Hole with Flour.

An amusing incident in connection with the Kennedy is related by Mi* W. C. Hodgson, of Wellington who served as purser on the old ship when she was in the passenger trade. The Kennedy, then commanded by the late Captain Palmer, was chartered by the Government to transfer a locomotive from Greymouth to Waitara for the New Plymouth-Waitara railway. The engine was placed oil board, but when the ship was crossing the Greymouth Bar she struck a rock and knocked a hole in her hull. Water Tushed in and the vessel had to put back to Greymouth, where she was beached in a sinking condition. After the water had been pumped out a bag of flour was forced into the hole and toinmod down. Tho ship again put to sea, and after an uneventful voyage, during which the bag of flour held absolutely watertight, she arrived at Waitara and landed the locomotive at the wharf. She then returned to Nelson, where permanent repairs were effected. With the action of the salt wafer the flour had by that time become solidified, and considerable diffieuly was experienced in removing the bag from the hull. The locomotive taken to Waitara was the first train engine to be used on the Waitara-Ncw Plymouth.

Many of tho older members of the Anchor Company received part of their early training in the old Kennedy. Mr W. Rogers, now manager of the company, served on her as purser, and Captain W. Wildman, commodore of the Anchor Company’s fleet, served Iris time on her before the mast.