VICISSITUDES OF SERVICE

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1930, Page 14

VICISSITUDES OF SERVICE

TRAGEDY—BUT ON IT WENT 4

MANY SHIPS WRECKED ON COAST.

ONE VESSEL SINKS IN HARBOUR.

Although the ships that have carried passengers to and from New Plymouth are legion, it- is the Northern Company and the Union Company who have been chiefly responsible for the carrying on of the New Plymouth-Onehunga ferry service for more than half a century.

To the modern, generation there have been only two ships on the run, the familiar Rarawa and Ngapuhi, and one outstanding personality —Captain Bark, who has commanded these two vessels continuously on the service for over 16 years. But prior to that other ships and other captains were just as familiar. In the traditions of the service there will always remain memories of the old Takapuna and Rotoiti, and Captains Norbury and Blackburn. Mention of the latter lends a touch of tragedy to the romance of the sea, for it recalls the loss of a number of ships that have been wrecked on the coast while carrying passengers. On June 12, 1888, the Hawea suddenly sank in New Plymouth harbour and her hull is only now being removed. On January 6, 1903, the Gairlock was wrecked near Oakura, and her remains still lie bleaching on the sands at low tide. Then on June 13, 1907 s , came the disastrous wreck of the Kia Ora between Mokau and Kawhia, when Captain Blackburn and a number of other people were drowned.

In addition to these three well-known wrecks in the West Coast passenger service described in this morning’s News there was a fourth of some importance in that of the Wanaka on the Bell Block beach on April 1, 1891. At low tide- the remains of one of the Wanaka’s boilers may still be seen from the beach. Many other minor wrecks occurred on the Taranaki coast in earlier times, notably those of the Harriet lit Opunake, the Lord Wolsey near Rahctu, and the Lizzie Bell at Oakura. These latter, however, were not connected with the Onehunga ferry service. Though there have been no wrecks in modern times, the service has by no means been without its thrills. As a true sailor usually does, Captain Bark closes up like an oyster when you ask him to tell of the exciting and dangerous escapes he has had. But passengers have not forgotten that memorable crossing of the Manukau bar only a few years ago when sea after sea nearly caused the Rarawa to founder-,- and she limped into New Plymouth with her rail torn away and wearing a very battered appearance; nor the occasion a few years before that when there was such an exceptional storm at New Plymouth that the harbourmaster signalled the Rarawa not to come in. After tossing at sea most of the morning and exhausting all her fuel supply the ship was compelled to make for the port, and for a tense few moments that seemed like an age the large crowd assembled on the Moturoa wharf held their breath as the Rarawa rolled heavily over in the tumult of water at the harbour entrance, lay poised while horrified people ashore could plainly see her keel, and slowly righted herself in the safety of the calmer water.

But for every one of the eventful trips, arid in spite of the treacherous Manukau bar that was always waiting to claim a victim, there have been scores of uneventful voyages. Steadily and surely, tri-weekly and then biweekly, year in and year out, thousands of passengers have been carried safely backwards and forwards by a service that has saved Taranaki people thousands of pounds in time and money. Good sailor' or bad sailor, there are many people who will view with deep regret the termination of a very useful transport facility.