END OF THE REWA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20603, 30 June 1930, Page 10

END OF THE REWA.

LAST VOYAGE INTO GULF. INCIDENT BEFORE DEPARTURE. SHIP'S BELL REMOVED. The departure from Auckland at midnight on Friday of the stately old barque Rewa, on her way to rest as a harbour breakwater at Moturekareka Island, in the Hauraki Gulf, was riot without incident. Between five and ten o'clock on Friday evening, when no one was aboard, the ship's bell disappeared. Its absence was not noticed until the Rewa, towed by the tug Te Awhina, was well down the harbour on her way to the gulf. The new owner of the vessel, Mr. C. Hanson, had promised the bell—the only one on which the original name of the ship, Alice A. Leigh, appeared—to Captain Attwood, superintendent of mercantile marine at Auckland, who intended to send it to England as a gift to the Gtiild of Master Mariners. <" • Apart from this incident the Rewa's last voyage was uneventful. With the tug heaving alongside the old ship made good progress on the run to Tiri, which was passed at four o'clock on Saturday morning. Then. she encountered a heavy, ocean swell, which made towing somewhat difficult. The Rewa. made slowly towards her last resting place, and shortly before nine o'clock she was run gently ashore on the rocks at the northern end of the small bay on Moturekareka Island where Mr. Hanson has his home.

Captain A. Davies, of the Marine Department, who supervised the removal and berthing of the vessel, warned all aboard to go aft in case any blocks or tackle gave way when the vessel struck. However, this did not occur. The Rewa shuddered slightly at the impact, as if loath to leave the hroad sea for the permanent haven of a sheltered bay. She was moored there, in her last resting place, and as the Te Awhina left to return to Auckland her siren shrieked a final salute to the old vessel, tall and stately still, even though her day 3 afloat are ended.