SS Muritai
SS Muritai was a ferry built in 1922, for use as a Wellington Harbour ferry. She was later used by the Royal New Zealand Navy as a minesweeper, and training ship. After World War II, she operated as an Auckland–Waiheke ferry before finally being hulked in 1962, and scrapped in 1971.
Construction
Muritai was ordered by the Eastbourne Borough Council in 1922 as a new Days Bay ferry; the order was sent to the Coaster Construction Company, based in Montrose, Scotland. The ferry was designed to be overall in length, have a speed of 13 knots, and have a carrying capacity for 1,500 passengers. Muritai was launched on 20 December 1922, being christened by Mary Jane Hill Allen, the wife of Sir James Allen, the New Zealand high commissioner to the United Kingdom.Muritai was completed in early February 1923, but trials were delayed until mid February due to poor weather. Once trials were held it was said they were very successful, and the vessel sailed from Montrose on 23 February 1923. She would shelter in Southampton on 25 February, owing to a strong westerly gale, continuing her voyage on 3 March. Muritai arrived in Wellington at 9:20pm on 16 May 1923, with the harbourmaster berthing her at 10:30pm, watched by a large crowd of people. After she was tied up, Muritai was opened to the public for inspection. She was then hauled up on the Evans Bay Patent Slip, having her hull repainted and cleaned, and her tailshafts withdrawn for examination. Trials were held on 2 June 1923, and were considered satisfactory, though she did not reach her desired speed, and so new propellers were ordered to correct the issue. Muritai was formally handed over to the Eastbourne Borough Council on 17 July 1923, entering service two days later on 19 July.
Wellington Harbour ferry
On 21 August 1923, a little over a month after Muritai entered service, while backing out of the Wellington ferry wharf during a strong southerly breeze, a squall swung her stern into the SS Naringa, denting several of the latter's plates; an examination found that some rivets on Naringa had loosened, but Muritai avoided any major damages thanks to her fenders protecting her hull. On 25 September, the propellers that were orderded in July were installed on Muritai, and speed trials were held on 1 October, with Muritai reaching a speed of 13½knots. The trials were satisfactory to the council and she once again entered service.On the night of 12 February 1925, there was an attempt made to set Muritai adrift while her night watchman left the ship temporarily; once he returned he found three lines holding the ship's bow were severed, with her aft lines remaining intact.
On 17 July 1925, following a routine survey on the Evans Bay Patent Slip, Muritai was found to be leaking badly aft after coming off the cradle, and she was hastily grounded at Balaena Bay, with a diver summoned from the patent slip finding that a tailshaft clamp had been pulled out when the ship went underway, opening a hole through which the water poured in. The hole was plugged, and water was pumped out. The Duchess then towed Muritai into deep water, then back to the patent slipway, securing her to the patent slip's wharf.
On 4 December 1925, shortly after leaving the wharf at Days Bay during a heavy northerly gale, one of Muritai
Another steering gear faliure occurred on 13 January 1932, when her steering gear was carried away, with a complete loss of steering control, and Muritai drifted while turning in circles until the tug Natone came to her assistance and brought her back to her berth. Later that year, on 2 May, while arriving at Wellington, Muritai collided with the auxiliary scow Echo; no damage was done to Muritai and there was very little damage done to Echo, and the latter continued on to Blenheim.