S.S. Gael at Okarito wharf, 11th February 1939.

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Date of Photo11th February 1939Map^[1]

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CommentsDavid Lindsay One of my grandfather's was a cook on the Gael
15 April at 17:43 · Like · 2

Sally Poutu Shia King show nana
15 April at 17:47 · Like · 1

Lou Mangin What was this boat used for?
15 April at 17:59 · Like

David Lindsay Mainly timber I think but also prob general supplies to isolated places like Jackson's bay
15 April at 18:01 · Like · 2

Graham Ferguson
Some details and info about the Gael, she was built in 1904, as a steamer, but was later converted to diesel in the 1930,s and 40,s her regular trading pattern was between Wellington and the West Coast ports mainly Greymouth, Hokitika, Okarito. Okura, and Jackson bay, she did make calls at Bruce Bay and Milford sound as required. She made regular runs from Hokitika to Jackson Bay with general cargo, returning from there with timber and silver pine posts which were destined for Wellington. Returning from Wellington with general cargo, which was mainly unloaded at Hokitika, she also made cement runs from Tarakohe to Hokitika. in her trading days to the West Coast she was owned by the South Westland Shipping Co. Rentons played a major part in this Company with Paul Renton being one of the Directors. On the 18th of April 1952 while on a voyage from Motueka to Wellington with a cargo of 1,800 cases of apples the Gael struck the south eastern reef off the Beef Barrel Rocks and became a total loss, her crew were rescued by the coaster Motu. At the time of her loss the Gael was owned by The Southern Cross Shipping Co, a syndicate of WW II servicemen.
15 April at 19:10 · Like · 5

Frances Atkinson Great info from Graham.
17 April at 16:17 · Like · 1

Peter Robertson MV Gael unloading at Okuru - note drays!
Peter Robertson's photo.
17 April at 20:35 · Like · 3

Don Hutton More excellent historical commentary. Graham Ferguson, Peter Robertson do you know anything of the ships that took MOW gear etc to Jacksons Bay for road construction before the lower bridge was constructed linking Haast with Paringa etc?
18 April at 12:10 · Like

Graham Ferguson
Yes Don the ships that lifted construction gear etc to Jackson Bay were mainly the Anchor Co,s vessels Towai and the Puriri, they loaded cargo here, and sometimes had loaded cargo in Wellington, This happened mainly in the 1950,s and 60,s , and all; that ceased when the Haast Road was completed. While on the subject of Jackson Bay in the mid to late 1960,s up until the early 70,s, the Northern Co ships loaded timber there for Carters in Auckland the timber was discharged at Onehunga, as at the time Carters had a Sawmill there at Okuru. Just on rare occasions if you were lucky enough to be in the right place you would see one of them heading North as the odd one would come in close to here, i saw the Maunganui twice steaming past. And at that time you could pick them up on the RT calling Auckland Radio, and they would be sending a cable to the Northern Steamship Co,s office in Auckland no doubt informing them as to where their position was and their ETA at Onehunga. The problem was they never sent the cable in text or words it was always in numbers no doubt a code they used. The Co,s telegraph address was Norstem Auckland then the message would follow in numbers for example 24, 67. 42. etc, very interesting at the time, only wish i was a code breaker. The Northern Co sold their last ship in 1976 the Tainui II.
18 April at 12:59 · Like · 1

Don Hutton Thank you Graham Ferguson Really interesting history. I assume one of those ships must have taken the gear down we used on the Haast bridge survey which was too heavy for the Dominie that transported our group of 6 in Dec 1954.

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S.S. Gael at Okarito wharf, 11th February 1939.

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