UNWANTED SHIP

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20481, 28 July 1936, Page 7

UNWANTED SHIP

STRANDED MAHENO. NO BUYERS FORTHCOMING. Nobody wants the old L'nioa intercolonial liner Maheno, which tor many years held the trans-Tas-man record, and she will never be moved from her resting place on Fraser Island, off the Queensland coast. All hopes of salvaging her have been abandoned. Tenders were called for the purchase of the liner as she lies. No one submitted a tender. Her Japanese purchasers, who last year unsuccessfully attempted to tow the liner to Japan to be broken up. will lose about £17.000 through her stranding. The Maheno was bought by Amakasu Brothers, of Osaka, and left Sydney on July 3 last year for Japan, in tow of the steamer Oonah. During a cyclone off the Queensland coast the two ships parted company, and the helplees liner drifted on tn Fraser Island. Two Japanese salvage experts visited the stranded ship, and up to the end of last year hopes were entertained that sue could be dragged into deeper waler. The old ship now lies broadside on to the sea. and even at low tide waves splash through her splintered portholes and gush through her plates. At high water there is 27ft. of water in her engine-room, and she is embedded in 27ft. of sanu. Already the furniture and fitting* have been moved from the Maheno, and many chairs from the first-class dining saloon are being used la Maryborough aa office chairs. The grand piano has been transported io Brisbane. The heavier metal parts and fittings have to be transported for about five miles across the island to be shipped to the mainland, and the heavy expense that would thus be entailed is probably the reason for no offer having been made for the ship.