HINEMOA MAY BE USED

Southland Times, Issue 24651, 24 January 1942, Page 6

HINEMOA MAY BE USED

INTEREST SHOWN IN VESSEL The possibility that the former Government steamer Hinemoa may be put into commission again or broken up after lying at Little Glory Cove, Gtewart Island, for 10 years has been suggested by an unofficial visit to the vessel last week-end by a representative of the Marine Department. During the last few years there have been several proposals for the disposal of the vessel, including its use by an Invercargill syndicate as a fish manure factory, but a licence for that scheme was refused by the Bureau of Industry. In view of the acute shortage of shipping tonnage at the present time, it is thought in some quarters that the Hinemoa may be put into commission again with advantage. The hull is apparently in good condition because, although the vessel has been lying unattended for so long, she has made comparatively little water. It is stated that the hull was constructed of special iron plates which are resistant to corrosion. The vessel has been partially stripped of fittings, but the engines and power plant are intact, although it is possible that the boilers would require renewing. SALE NOT COMPLETED The Hinemoa is owned by Mr D. W. McKay, of Invercargill, who bought her in 1929 to operate a passenger service to the West Coast sounds during the tourist season. After two seasons on that run she was laid up; but Mr A. S. Russell chartered her 10 years ago for the Stewart Island service for one season. A sale to an Invercargill syndicate, which proposed to operate the vessel as a fish manure factory, was not completed, the authorities not having authorized a transfer. .Since some of" the fittings were stripped from the Hinemoa, there have been instances of vandalism on the vessel. Unauthorized persons have gone aboard the ship and have done much damage. Electrical fittings have been torn from their sockets and the locks of cupboards have been sawn off and the contents of the cupboards stolen. An iron stove was dropped from several decks above into the dining saloon and smashed to pieces. Almost everything movable has been stolen. There is considerable conjecture at Stewart Island at present whether the Hinemoa will shortly leave her moorings, either to go into service or to the ship breakers. Built originally as a pleasure yacht for an Oriental potentate, the Hinemoa has most graceful lines, but after some years of neglect the ship has a woebegone appearance. Some seamen contend, however, that if she was docked and scraped of the accumulation of barnacles and other marine growths and given some muchneeded paint and mechanical attention, she would prove a reliable and useful vessel.