100 VOYAGES
R.M.S. NIAGARA’S RECORD OF SERVICE 17 YEARS ON RUN The lOOtli round voyage of the Royal Mail liner Niagara commenced on Thursday evening, when the vessel left Sydney for Auckland, Suva, Honolulu aud Vancouver. For 17 years the Niagara has maintained her run without mishap. Her first visit to Auckland was paid on May 9, 1913, when she lay close alongside H.M.S. New Zealand Great crowds .visited the Niagara, which was then the biggest and most luxurious lmer that had ever come south of the Line. She was the first vessel burning oil fuel to have a British Board of Trade certificate for carrying passengers. In 1925, however, the Niagara, despite her 13.415 tons, was deprived of the honour by the motor-liner Aorangi, of 17,491 tons, at that time the largest passenger motor-ship m the world. The Niagara, nevertheless, played a big part in the development and improvement of the CanadiauAustralian service. The first commander of the Niagara was the late Captain John Gibb, who was succeeded by Captain John Rolls, master for 10 years, including the war period. Other commanders were Captain H. Morrisby and Captain A. C Showman. The fifth and present com mander is an Aucklander, Captain T. V. Hill. WAR DANGERS During the war the Niagara had to steam many miles without lights and go long distances off her course to maintain the service. Eight vessels, aggregating 54.71 G tons, were lost by the Union Company during the war, including the Avenger, which was taken over by the British Admiralty and converted into an armoured cruiser. One of the most exciting incidents in the career of the Niagara was the rescue of the crew of the auxiliary schooner, Doris Crane, which caught tire when bound from Fanning Island to San Francisco in' December, 1927. The crew fought the flames for 20 hours before taking to the boats and the glare of the burning schooner attracted the attention of the Niagara, which changed her course and picked up the survivors. The Niagara also rescued the crew of the fishing launch Ika off the Hen and Chickens Group in February, 1928. The crew of the launch, which was being blown out to sea owing to an engine breakdown, sent up flares aud a rescue was effected by the Niagara. The Niagara was built by John Brown, Limited, on the Clydp.
100 VOYAGES
Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1034, 26 July 1930, Page 13
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