STEAMER ROTOMAHANA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19957, 28 May 1928, Page 9

STEAMER ROTOMAHANA

END OF LONG SERVICES. VESSEL TO BE SUNK AT SEA. MELBOURNE. May '.'P. Tho old steamer Rotomahana, which was for many years in the Merbourno to New Zealand passenger and cargo service and in the Tasmanian service, will begin her last voyage on Monday, She will be towed three miles outside Tort Phillip Heads and then si:nk. The Rotomahana was built by Messrs. William Denny and Company at Dumbarton in 1877. She was of 1777 tons, 288 feet long and 35 feet broad. It, was said that special care was taken in her construction, as she was built to be the private yacht of a prince who died about tho time she was completed. Her graceful lines, luxurious fittings and high speed fitted her for tho purpose. The Union Steam Ship Company bought her for tho inter-Dominions trade, and she soon popuUi on the MelbourneWellington run. Her conspicuous feature was a figurehead of a Maori princess; she was perhaps the last steam vessel with a figurehead. For a short period she ran between Wellington and Lyttelton, and from 1908 was for 13 years on the Melbourne-Launceston run. In 1925 she was offered for sale and bought by a Melbourne firm for £I9OO. Her funnel and masts were taken dowrr, most of her fittings removed, and the boilers, still in good condition, taken out to be used The beautiful panels from the saloon, made of bird's-eye maple, were also sold.