USEFULNESS ENDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22628, 20 July 1935, Page 21

USEFULNESS ENDED

STEAMERS SOLD TO SHIPBREAKERS MAPOURIKA’S HISTORY RECALLED (Per United Press Association) NELSON, July 19. The Anchor Company has sold the steamers Ngaio and Regulus to Messrs P. B. Jackson and Co., of Auckland, shipbreakers. For u long time negotiations were in progress for the purchase of the Ngaio for conversion into a houseboat for the sounds, but those negotiations lapsed.

The Ngaio, of 1203, tons, was formerly the Union Company’s Mapourika end was built in 1898 for the West Coast trade. On her fifth voyage to the Coast she nearly became a victim of the Grey bar when she was struck by a blind roller which lifted her stern out of the water and carried the vessel broadside on to the north tip. Difficult problems presented themselves In the matter of her relaunching and eventually a “ cradle ” was built around the vessel. The breakwater was cut through and the ship was taken to the other side. The Mapourika was stranded again in 1900 on Mabel Island, near Picton. In 19: L she was purchased by the Anchor Company for the Wellington-Nelson service. She has been tied*up since 1930, The Regulus, of 584 tons, one of the company's freighters for many years, formerly belonged to the Westport Coal Company. She has been laid up for several years.