SALE OF STEAMERS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3177, 19 April 1871, Page 3

SALE OF STEAMERS.

— «» A TEST large attendance was drawn yesterday afternoon to the late office of the N.Z.S.N. Co. (now Messrs Bethune and Hunter's saleroom) to see how tho Wellington and Ahuriri would be knocked down. Mr Georgo Hunter acted as auctioneer, and, in reading the conditions of sale, announced that the steamers would be sold without reserve. The first vessel was the s.s. Wellington, 365 tons register, 80 horsepower. The bidding commenced by Mr John Martin offering £4000. Mr Harrison bid £4200, and then the bids ran on until Mr Harrison bid £5100 ; £100 advance was then made by Mr Martin, when a long pause onsued, which was broken by a Mr Ford bidding £5300. The competition was thenceforth between Mr Martin and Mr Ford, tho vessel being ultimately knocked down to the latter gentleman for £7000. When Mr Harrison came forward to complete the terms of purchase the bystanders expressed their pleasure on discovering that the steamer was purchased in fche place, ifc being generally understood thafc Mr Harrison was acting on behalf of the Wreck Recovery Company, and that, tho Wellington, and her sister ship, the Taranaki, would belong to the same owners. The s.s. Ahuriri, 184 tons, 50 horse-power, was next put up, and the bidding commenced by Mr Harrison offering £1500. Mr Pearce made a fow bids, but retired at £3000, and the steamer was ultimately knocked down to Mr Martin for £3650. This was received by the crowd by loud acclamation. A complete diving apparatus, the property of the N.Z.S.N. Company, was bought by Mr Pearce on behalf of the Patent Slip Company for £41. Mr R. J. Duncan afterwards offered the steamers Phoobe aud Lord Ashley, bufc there were no bids in advance of the reserves of £10,000 and £3500 respectively. Mr Martin offered £3000 for the Lord Ashley, bufc it was not accepted.