FAMOUS OLD SHIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22389, 8 April 1936, Page 18

FAMOUS OLD SHIP

FATE OF THE TINGIBA IN SHIPBREAKERS' HANDS ASSOCIATIONS WITH SYDNEY Shipbreakers have taken delivery of tlie once world-famed sailing ship Tingira, now lying in Berry's Bay, near Sydney, and are rapidly tearing her into small pieces. Experts, with a modern equipment, are cutting out slabs of iron and lowering the pieces into lighters on the starboard side of the vessel. Much of tho decking has already been torn up, rails have been removed, the stubby unstable fore-topmast has been taken down, and the long, 90-foot main yard, on which several venturesome sailors had cut their initials in the covering of paint, has been taken away. When the throe lower masts are unshipped the vessel will have passed into the hulk stage. Soon after that the Tingira will be only one of the many sea memories that belong to Port Jackson. Built in 1866 by' Messrs. Hall and Company, of Aberdeen, tho vessel was named Sobraon. She was the second vessel to ""carry the name in the southern seas, her. predecessor having been a barque that was engaged in the New Zealand trade in 1848.

Best Malabar Teak Built of the best Malabar teak and fashioned to register 2131 tons, the Sobraon was the largest composite sailing ship to carry the Red Ensign. It was originally intended to fit her out as a steamer. The timbers used in closing the opening for the propeller are still in their places. The only other teak-built clipper ship afloat to-day is the Cutty Sark, which was built at Dumbarton in 1869, and is three years younger than her old rival. Had Captain J. A. Elmslie driven his vessel as hard as Captain Woodgett drove the Cutty Sark, the Sobraon might easily have held tho world's record for the fastest voyage from London to Melbourne. Her fastest trip to Cape Otway was done in 60 days. Light winds then robbed her of what looked like a 61-day run from pilot to pilot. The Sobraon had the honour of taking Lord and Lady Belrnore to Sydney in 1867, and took tl iin home again in 1872. During Januaiy, 1868, the Duke of Edinburgh was present on the Sobraon, and lunched with the Anniversary Regatta Committee in the cabin of the vessel.

For 25 years the ship did her work, making the round trip from London to Melbourne or Sydney once every year via Capetown and St. Helena, where several days were spent for the pleasure of the passengers. Bought lor £12,000 Sir Henry Parkes was responsible for removing the Sobraon from the deep sea register. His beloved old Vernon, the port's reformatory ship, was falling to pieces. The Premier was afraid the bottom would drop out of the vessel, and drown the boys—who were being schooled on her. Without consulting his colleagues, he arranged with Mr. Saul Samuel, Agent-General for New South Wales, to look round for the finest wooden sailing vessel afloat. English experts chose the Sobraon, then on a voyage to Australia. The sum of £12,000 was fixed, and the ship changed hands. Not until the deal was practically concluded did Sir Henry Parkes mention the matter to his colleagues. Another £BOOO was spent in converting the Sobraon into a reformatory ship. In August, 1912, she was acquired by the .Commonwealth Government as a training ship for the Australian Navy, and was renamed Tingira. When it was decided to pay oif the crew and discontinue the training of boys, tho ship was sold to Mr. Watty Ford, one of the port's most expert shipwrights and ship-lovers. Mr. Ford died and left the teak ship to be disposed of by his executors.

Berry's Bay, her home port for nearly six years, will not look the same when the straight-sided, old grey clipper ship, broken into small pieces, has been carried away.