A suggestion to the Editor of "New Zealand Marine News" that we reintroduce a past feature where readers were invited identify "mystery ships". This could be done on this web site if members can submit pictures.
To start the ball rolling here are two picures scanned from the February 2012 edition of "New Zealand Memories". The first picture is dated "about 1924" and shows a ship berthed at Waitohi Wharf Picton.
Can you identify the ship and is the date correct?
The second photo also scanned from the same edition of "New Zealand Memories" show a scow and a Northern Company vessel berthed at Puke Wharf, Paeroa and dated about 1910.
What are the names of the two vessels?
And lastly a more recent photo of a cruise ship on the New Zealand Coast in January-February 2012.
What is the name of the ship?
11 May 2012
After 3 months we are half way to solving the problem. Nic Campbell (Levin) had this to say about the top photo -
It’s the 1931 Rangatira, probably on an Anniversary Day or King’s Birthday excursion. The photo date is obviously wrong and the foreshore looks similar in layout as it was right up until the late 1940’s, maybe even early 50’s.
Of more interest, what is the ship in the foreground with a crowd aboard; who is she? Is that a gun port door aft? Was it Perano’s service vessel – I forget her name.
Is she manoeuvring or simply holding position? for viewing something happening on the beach? Any answers?
I think RANGITIRA is correct. She was built in 1931 so the Memories date of 1924 is incorrect.
No answers for the next picture but Tony Lawrence (Melbourne ) correctly identified the cruise ship RADIANCE OF THE SEAS. Photo taken at Aotea Quay Wellington on 21 January 2012.
Publication Date:
11/05/2012
