STEAMER DUCHESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26485, 12 June 1947, Page 6

STEAMER DUCHESS

BEACHED ON RANGITOTO Daily Times Special Service AUCKLAND, June 11. Now only a shell, the former harbour steamer Duchess was towed from western viaduct this morning on her last voyage, and this afternoon she was beached in the'haven of old ships which lie on the northern side of Rangitoto Island. Since last December, the old steamer has passed through the hands of the shipbreakers, who have removed everything for which a use could be found. When she left the harbour this morning little of her superstructure remained. The Duchess was built on the Clyde and launched in 1896. She reached Wellington in 1897'and ran for many years on the Day’s Bay service. She was also engaged to tow sailing ships on occasions as far as Picton and Lyttelton. After arriving in Auckland in 1929, she was placed on the run to Kawau, and in November, 1931, inaugurated a. regular passenger service to Matiatia and Kawau. In 1940 - the old steamer was taken over by the navy, first serving as a minesweeper. Later, she was used as an examination ship, and she made a number of trips on naval work to the islands in the Hauraki Gulf. At the end of the war her owners decided not to take possession of her again, and the question of her disposal was lefi to the Government. . When the Duchess was launched 51 years ago, the sun was shining brightly as a photograph on the wall of an Auckland shipping office shows. Today, as she moved reluctantly down the harbour on the last of her many voyages, drizzling rain threatened to hide her from those who watched her go.