HISTORIC RELIC

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19024, 26 May 1936, Page 3

HISTORIC RELIC

BELL OP S.S. MONOWAI TRANSPORT IN TWO WARS Ait ibtereMing relic which is lb 'find sr permanent resting place in the Dominion Museum is the ship’s bell of the first Monowai, which for many, years was well known in the intercolonial and New Zealand coastal trades, and* which was one of the first, transports to leave the Dominion with troops for active service overseas. - The Monowai was a single-screw steamer of 3483 tons gross register, and was built for the Union Steant Sjhip Company of New Zealand, Limited, in 1800, by \Y. Denny and Brothers at Dumbarton, on the Clyde. She was employed for ,several years in the San Francisco mail service ami subsequently' in the, intercolonial and New Zealand coastal trades. Tho Monowai was one of the four transports which carried the 1060 officers and men of the Fourth and Fifth Contingents from New Zealand to South Africa during the war of 1.8991002.

The Monowai, when in the intercolonial trade in 1007, broke her rudder and was adrift: for some time before she was picked up by the Mokoia at,td towed into Sydney. A few days after the outbreak of the Great War the Monowai and the Moeraki were requisitioned.; as transports to carry the Advance Expeditionary Force from New Zealand to Samoa.

After her return to New Zealand the Monowai resuined her trading for several years. Shortly after the Avar the, ship-was sold by the Union Steam Ship Company to the Gisborne Harbour Board, which sank her for use as a breakwater in connection with its harbour work's. The ship’s bell lots fiow been' presented’ to the Samoan Committee, a, small- local organisation rtf ex-tnehilVers of the occupation force, who intend; to, hand i| over. for. preservation ag. ari. historic relic in the j.