SIXTY-THREE YEARS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20085, 2 March 1928, Page 6

SIXTY-THREE YEARS

AN ANCIENT TRADER TUB COASTER KENNEDY Sixty-three years of alternately calm and storm-tossed waters and a similar period of faithful sea service, lie behind the small coastal steamer Kennedy, which was in AVanganui thia week. The Kennedy has considerable claim to being recognised as a true pioneer in early New Zealand shipping and she is still keeping pace with the best vessels on the coast. Life is a strange thing among ships as well as among men, but the expected ravages of increasing age and the pounding of countless waves have, by some extraordinarily fortunate trick, dealt lightly with the Kennedy. To

consider the cruel chance which plunged the mighty Titanic to her doom on her maiden trip and to see the diminutive, but sturdy Kennedy braving the dangers of coastal squalls and treacherous river bars successfully for over half a century is to realise the grotesque dealings of Fate. In the Gold Rushes In 1565 the Kennedy was launched’ at Sydney for the Australian Steam Navigation Company. being named after Sir Arthur Edward Kennedy, Governor of Western . Australia and later of Queensland. Four years later she was sold to t?ic Anchor Company and crossed the Tasman to enter the South Island West Coast tradie, taking paio in the historic gold-rushes to Hokitika. Ip to .1877 the Kennedy was schooner rigged, but in that year a more powerful engine was installed at Auckland. Aitor HI years this engine is sending the vessel along at seven knots. The Way of All Ships During the ’eighties the Kennedy was the contemporary of such old time vessels as the Gairloeh, the Takapuna, and the Penguin. Most erf the vessels she has figured with have gone the way of the ship-breaker or have met disaster. The Kennedy, however, has been stranded at AVanganui, Hokitika, Foxton and Greymouth. Foxton beach once held her for 18 days and she was stripped of her rudder and twinscrews. Universal is the respect for the Kennedy among mon who go down to the sea in ships. She piust bo one o? the oldest steamers in commission i.t the southern seas.