DREDGE SCUTTLED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 86, 13 April 1940, Page 11

DREDGE SCUTTLED

GISBORNE BOARD'S KORUA DAYS OF SERVICE ENDED. ORIGINALLY COST £63,000. GISBORNE, April 9. After lying in the Waikanae basin for over 10 years awaiting sale or other disposal, the Gisborne Harbour Board's dredge Korua was towed out across the bay to-day and sunk in the neighbourhood of Young Nick’s Head, where it will be out of the way of shipping. The scuttling of the vessel was carried out without ceremony, although some of those who took part in the task saw the ship go down with some regrets for the days when the Korua was a fairly new and fully- . efficient dredging tool. The vessel was built in the Poole ; and Steel shipbuilding yards, Bal- i main, Sydney, order of of the , Commonwealth Government, and was launched in 1914. For 10 years it was employed in deepening fleet anchorages and berthage on the eastern coast of Australia, and set up a first-class record in those operations. The Korua was bought by the Gisborne Harbour Board in 1924, together with Lhree steel attendant barges, and was brought across the Tasman to carry out an extensive programme of excavation in connection with the outer harbour project. The cost of the dredge with her attendant barges was £63.000, and after its arrival in New Zealand waters further expense was involved in preparing it for tfTe work wafting in the Gisborne Harbour. Several years ago the board disposed of two of the barges to the Auckland Harbour Board and they are still giving sendee in the northern port.