LINER RUAHINE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23191, 10 November 1938, Page 12

LINER RUAHINE

SHIP'S FUTURE USE • CARGO CARRIAGE ONLY LONG PERIOD OF SERVICE Fixed to load cargo for Auckland at Middlesbrough and Immingham, in tlie north of England, next month, the New Zealand Shipping Company's liner Rualiine has been withdrawn from the passenger trade between England and New Zealand after nearly 30 years' service. The oldest ship in the company's passenger lleet, tbe Rualiine will be replaced by the liner Itimutaka, formerly the P. and 0. vessel Mongolia, which will leave London next month on her maiden voyago to Auckland. For many years a very popular ship in the New Zealand trade, the Rualiine has played an important pnrt in the country's life as transport during the war years, as immigrant ship and as tourist liner. She was built as a coalburner in 1909 by W. Denny and Brothers at Dumbarton, her tonnage being about 11,000 gross. In 1 1923 she followed other ships of tho company's fleet in being changed to an oil-burner. The Ruahine's accommodation for first, second and third class passengers at one time ranked among tho best in the Dominion trado, additional suites of _ special single and double-berth cabins being built on tho upper deck a number of years ago. In 1933 all of the vessel s accommodation was changed to tou.rist class, tho quarters ranging over four decks amidships. On her last visit to Now Zealand, under the command of Captain G. Kinnell, tho Ruahino visited Auckland m September to load for London and West Coast ports of Britain. She will leave Immingham on Decomber 14 and reach Auckland about January 23.