FATE OF THE TOFUA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21716, 3 February 1934, Page 10

FATE OF THE TOFUA

SOLD TO JAPANESE SHIP TO BE DISMANTLED A TRADE WHICH DWINDLED After being idle in Auckland harbour for nearly two years, the "Union Company's island steamer Tofua has been sold to Japanese buyers. The vessel is to go to Japan to bo dismantled for scrap metal, and she will leave for Japan in ballast during March or April. The Tofua is a twin screw steel vessel of 4345 tons, and she was b/uilt by W. Denny and Brothers, at Dumbarton, in 1908. Except during the war, when she was used as a troopship, she was employed in the island passenger and cargo trade from the time she arrived here until she was withdrawn from the service in April, 1932. She is the last of three steamers specially built for the island trade. The other two, tihe Navua and Atua, were sold to Eastern buyers some years ago. With the withdrawal of tihe Tofua the company's passenger service to the islands was abandoned after continuing for over 50 years. Her place in the trade was taken by the cargo steamer Waipahi, which is specially fitted for the carriage of fruit, but has accommodation for only a very limited number of passengers. Travellers between Auckland and Suva now go by tho Pacific mail liners. The Union Company commenced trading to Fiji in 1880 with the 985ton steamer Hero. As the island trade increased the service was extended to Tonga and Samoa, the vessel continuing to Sydney. Vessels which succeeded the Hero included tha steamers Penguin, Arawata, Taupo, Ovjalau, TJpolo, Taviuni, Talune, Hauroto, j Manapouri, Navua, Atua and Tofua. When the trade was at its height tho company had three passenger bteanfcrs. engaged in the New Zealand-Western Pacific service, and in addition the small steamer Kia Ora was utiEsed in the Fiji group to load cargo 'at the outlying isiaads and connect with steamers at Suva. The war was largely responsible for the first curtailment of the service, which continued to be reduced as the depression affected the fast dwindling trade.