The most serious wreck of this period connected with the Port of Auckland was the disaster which overtook the Huddart-Parker steamer Elingamite (2585 tons), which was totally wrecked on the Three Kings, while on a voyage from Sydney to Auckland, on November 9th, 1902. The vessel, which was travelling slowly on account of a very thick fog, had no warning of her danger, and when she struck, the engines were reversed without delay, but she had stuck fast. The boats and rafts were immediately launched, and all aboard, except the captain and chief steward, were taken off. Only one boat, however, reached the mainland, while others managed to make the Big King and the Middle King. The survivors on these islands underwent some hardships, until rescued by the steamer Zealandia, which had been intercepted by the master of a whaling boat, who conveyed the news of the disaster to the captain of that vessel. Later a raft was picked up by H.M.S. Penguin, but only eight out of sixteen found on it were alive. The survivors had undergone four days of terrible sufferings. One boat load of passengers was completely lost without trace. The total number of lives lost through the wreck was forty-nine.
A shipwreck of a more local character was the disaster which overtook the Kapanui inside the Heads on December 23rd, 1905. About nine o’clock in the evening the coastal steamer Kapanui, on its homeward voyage from Waiwera, was rammed by another coaster, the Claymore, outward bound, between Devonport wharf and North Head. The Kapanui sunk in a few minutes, five persons being drowned. The collision was due primarily to the Kapanui’s port light becoming extinguished, but the Court of Inquiry also found fault with the captain’s handling of the vessel.
Another coastal steamer, the Kia-Ora, while voyaging to Onehunga, was wrecked at Kawhia, on June 13th, 1907. Captain J. C. Blacklock and two passengers were drowned.
An unusual shipping accident occurred in the Calliope Dock on November 27th, 1906, during the docking of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company’s steamer Mamari (7062 tons), which resulted in the death of two men by drowning, and the injuring of thirty others. The accident was caused by the vessel lurching suddenly while there was still six feet of water in the dock. This unexpected movement of the ship sent the water swirling in the dock, taking men and loose timber with it, and causing the casualties stated. The ship had to be refloated without delay, as the position she had got into was extremely dangerous.
Another Huddart-Parker liner, the Wimmera (3021 tons), was sunk on June 26th, 1918, off North Cape, after striking a submerged mine. At the time of the disaster she was on a voyage from Auckland to Sydney. After the explosion the life-boats were lowered, and five of them got safely away. One of the boats (No. 4) was stoved in against the ship, and most of its complement perished. Altogether, ten passengers and sixteen of the crew, including Captain R. J. Kell, were drowned.
The city’s municipal progress in the last twenty years has been most marked. The Corporation’s motto, “Advance,” appears to have been kept in mind and lived up to, and in no direction was this activity more noticeable than in the city’s streets. In 1902 Auckland possessed only one paved street; there are now thirty-three streets laid in either asphalt, wood blocks, or concrete, as well as a large number of macadamised roads. The failure of a supply of good road metal retarded Auckland’s progress in road making, but the substitution of concrete has had successful results, and the Council has given authority for a large number of streets to be laid in this material, and the work is now being proceeded with. Another project which has engaged the attention of the Corporation was the widening of narrow streets, in order to carry the increased traffic which now passes over them. The improvements are most apparent on the waterfront, where the co-operation of the Harbour Board was obtained, and the largest and most costly undertaking of this class of work was the scheme known as the eastern outlet. This work necessitated the purchase of all properties between Beach Road and Jermyn Street, the widening of the first named from 66 feet to 110 feet, and the laying down of a new thoroughfare, named Anzac Avenue, 84 feet wide, from Beach Road to Lower Symonds Street. The making of this new highway was commenced in 1915, and the trams commenced running on it in February, 1921.
Auckland, from the North Shore
Auckland from the Ferry Buildings looking Eastward
Showing the wharves, Quay Street and Kings Drive (recently reclaimed). Devonport and Rangitoto on the left