FAREWELL RIMUTAKA

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1930, Page 7

FAREWELL RIMUTAKA

PASSENGER LICENSE EXPIRING. MAY BE SOLD AS CARGO VESSEL. This morning the port of New Plymouth will probably say good-bye for the last time to one of her most familiam and popular visitors —the s.s. Rimutaka (8977 tons) —in her capacity as a passenger vessel. When the Rimutaka reaches England at the expiry of her present voyage her passenger-carrying license expires, and she will probably be sold as a cargo steamer. The Rimutaka, which has accommodation for 70 lirst-class and about 80 thirdclass passengers, is taking only 12 on her forthcoming trip to England. It is possible, though not probable, that she may be retained by her owners and converted into a freight carrier with limited accommodation for passengers. The vessel was built and engined by the well-known shipbuilding firm of Messrs. W. Denny and Bros., Dumbarton. She has been in the England-New Zealand service ever since her construction, and is now on her 61st voyage to New Zealand. In the early days, however, the vessel voyaged to and from New Zealand round Cape Horn, calling at a few Australian ports, but for a number of years past the Rimutaka has sailed via Panama. During the Great War the Rimutaka carried Colonial troops, and she also made two trips to China for food supplies. When compared with the New Zealand Shipping Company’s fine motorvessels Rangitiki, Rangitane and Rangitata, the Rimutaka looks very “oldfashioned,” but she is still as fit as ever bo battle the storms of the Pacific. The Rimutaka is a twin-screw vessel, with two sets of triple reciprocating engines developing 4000 h.p. Her gross tonnage is 8997, length 457.7 ft., -beam 58.2 ft., draught 30.8 ft. When first launched 30 years ago the vessel’s tonnage was 7700. but since then alterations have been made accounting for the increase of 1200 tons. A remarkable thing about. the old liner is her ability to maintain the same speed as that for which she was built, namely, 12 knots. This is a wonderful record, and one of which her makers may well be proud. The Rimutaka has a Marconi wireless installation, its range being 230 miles.

The first commander of the ship was Captain Greenstrect. He was followed by Captain F. A. Hemming, now retired, who was in command for 18 years. Captain Barnett was next in charge, and he was succeeded in Captain C. B. Lamb, at present in command, who has been with the Rimutaka for only two voyages to New Zealand. It is considered probable that the Rimutaka's place in the service will be taken by the Ruapehu, Rotorua or Remuera*. The captain, officers and crew will be transferred to other vessels on arrival at England.