DOOMED MARAROA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17433, 4 December 1930, Page 13

DOOMED MARAROA

SOME EARLY HISTORY ’FRISCO MAIL CONTRACT Some of the very early history of the Alataroa is recalled by old seafaring men in Dunedin. 'lt appeai-s that about the date, of the arrival of the Alararoa in New Zealand, 45 years ago, the contrr/d between the Governments of New Stouth Wales and New Zealand and the Pacific Alail Steamship Co., of Ne.w York, for the carriage of tfib San Francisco mails came'to; art end, and as the Pacific Alail Go. desired to retire from that undertaking communications were opened between the Governments of New South Wales and New Zealand resulting in the Union Co. taking up the contract and carrying it on in conjunction with the Oceanic Steamship Co., of San Francisco., The first trip from the colonies under the new contract was made by the Alararoa, she being diverted tor that purpose immediately on her arrival in southern waters.

Captain James Edio brought her out to Hobart and took tier on to Sydney, where she ran a trial trip to test her boilers before starling the San Francisco service. After sonic time on the, run the Mararoa was withdrawn to strengthen tlm inter-colonial service, for winch she was built, : and ai 'a later period she and the Itotoma'bana were, the In lion Co.’s special representatives in the lively Competition that ensued when tlm Iluddart Parker Co. put on the Warrimoo and the Miowern, a rivalry that Jed to speedy passages amt cheap fares. It was at that time that the yards were stripped off the .Mararoa. I he public believing that that was done to ease her rolling.