WAINUI PASSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 686, 11 June 1929, Page 16

WAINUI PASSES

UNION COMPANY’S OLD STEAMER

“TERROR OF THE STRAITS”

Known in her heydey as the “Terror of the Straits,” the Union Company’s old steamer Wainui, after lying idle at Auckland for about two years, has been sold to the shipbreakers.

Everything on board that is of any value will be dismantled, and then the stripped hull of the old vessel will be sunk at sea, or disposed of in some other way. The Wainui is a steel steamer of 684 tons gross, and is the oldest vessel but one owned by the Union Company. She was built at Dumbarton, Scotland, in 1886, and during most of her career she was engaged in the southern coastal trade. It was when she was on the WellingtonNelson and West Coast ports run that she won the reputation which resulted in her being designated the “terror.” In fair weather and foul the Wainui could be depended on to battle her way across to the other side. In February, 1925, the Wainui was brought to Auckland to replace the Arahura in the Gisborne-Auckland passenger service, and for the next 18 months she remained in that service. In June, 1927, however, the company decided to abandon the Gisborne passenger service, and so the cargo steamer Waimea replaced the Wainqi. When the Wainui came to New Zealand on her maiden voyage the company had only 30 steamers, the largest of which was the Mararoa. This vessel, only a year old, was the most luxurious and the fastest steamer in the intercolonial service. Her tonnage was 2,598 and her speed was 15 knots. The Mararoa and the Wainui are the only two steamers left of the company’s 1886 fleet

The Wainui has been purchased by Messrs. Borlase and McKay, of Dunedin.