TARGET FOR NAVY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21164, 22 April 1932, Page 10

TARGET FOR NAVY.

END OF THE PUTIKI.

CLOSE OF LONG CAREER.

AN AUCKLAND-BUILT STEAMER.

After having been laid up in the stream at Wellington since early in 1930, the Richardson Company's coastal steamer Putiki was moved in to the Glasgow Wharf on Monday. She is to be dismantled and will be offered to the I\avy as a target. The Putiki's gear will probably bo transferred to tho same company's steaner Parera, which is to bo laid up indefinitely at Wellington. The Putiki, which was built at Auckland by Seagar Brothers, in 1904, is a single-screw iron steamer of 433 tons gross register, 150.4 ft. in length, 25.1 ft. in breadth, and 10.2 ft. in depth. When ,she was launched the late Mr. R. J. Seddon remarked that if he had known such fine vessels could bo built in New Zealand ho would have had the Janie Seddon and the Lady Roberts built hero. Tho Putiki was first owned by tho WelHngtou-Wanganui Steam Packet Company, and was run from Westport to Wanganui with coal, and from Wellington to Wanganui with general cargo. She also carried passenpers. In 1916 she had a new funnel fitted, and the bridge extended forward, while extra cabin accommodation was fitted for passengers. In 1919 tho ship was bought by Putiki, Limited, and was run in conjunction with the John in the Dunedin-Wellington-Wanganui cargo service, carrying no passengers. Richardson and Company, Napier, bought the Putiki in 1921, and she ran in various of their services round tho East Coast until July, 1929, when she was laid up at Wellington. She was put into commission again in January, 1930, but was shortly afterward again laid up.