TaiaroaQueensWharfWellington.jpg TAHITI in WellingtonEsikatselukuvatWAKATIPUTAHITI in WellingtonEsikatselukuvatWAKATIPU
1875-1886. (Pass-cargo) USSCo. 1876-1886.
Year: 1875 Type: Passenger/cargo
Flag: GBR
Launched: 17.8.75
Completed: 8.75
Owner: Albion Shipping Co.
Builder: A.J. Inglis, Pointhouse, Glasgow.
Material: Iron
Yard No: 123
GRT: 438
LPP: 57.7
Beam: 7.1
1875 launched as 'Jackal' for G. & J. Burns, Irish Sea Services, but purchased by James Galbraith, head of P. Henderson and Co, for a NZ coastal service in conjunction with the sailings of the Albion Shipping Co's emigrant-carrying ships. Completed as 'Taiaroa' for the Albion Shipping Co.
Her arrival caused 'annoyance' to James Mills (Union SSCo's director), and James Galbraith immediately offered to sell her to Mills and to refrain from coastal competition, provided USSCo became the feeders for the 19 Albion vessels sailing from Dunedin. By this move James Galbraith greatly strengthened the Albion Line and in 1877 it was incorporated with a capital of £1 million. There was more to this than meets the eye. Peter Denny (the Dumbarton shipbuilder) was on both Boards of Directors. There had to be collusion somewhere and James Mills must have known it, since USSCo continued to build ships with Denny on agreed credit terms.
(Merchant Fleets No.32, USSCo. of NZ by Duncan Haws)
1876 sold to USSCo. to run between NZ and Fiji.
1877 put on the Sydney to Noumea, New Caledonia mail run.
1878 withdrawn because unprofitable and put back on the NZ coastal service.
1886 11 April en route Wellington to Lyttelton, she was wrecked at the
mouth of the Clarence River in North Canterbury, with the loss of 34 lives.
Thanks to Miramar, John Crosslands, Brent Chambers and Duncan Haws.
Photo Credits: The Alexander Turnbull Library NZ