MEMENTO OF IONIC

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22695, 6 April 1937, Page 10

MEMENTO OF IONIC

j! GIFT OF BELL TO CITY SOUVENIR OF WELL-KNOWN SHIP As a memento of the association with New Zealand of the Shaw, Savill and Albion liner lonic, as a troopship in the Great War and as a regular trader and passenger ship for 34 years, its 2cwt."bell has been brought to Auckland from London on the Mataroa, and is to be presented to, the Auckland War Memorial Museum on Friday by the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis. • A request to the company for the preservation of the bell as a souvenir of the old ship, on which many New Zealanders hare travelled, was made by Mr. Davis before the lonic left New Zealand last November on her last voyage to England. The forecastle head of the lonic has since been dismantled, and she will go to Japan to be broken up. But the bell, bearing the inscription. "S.S. lonic," has come back to Auckland, where it will serve as a permanent reminder of the old ship's faithful service. The bell will be presented to the Mayor by Captain E. S. Lewis, marine superintendent of the company, at a luncjieon on board the Mataroa on Friday. About 50 guests will attend. Immediately after this function the bell will be handed over to 'the museum authorities, and it will be housed in a prominent section of the building.