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Alexander
 Sourced from Alexander Turnbull Library via www.shipspotting.com
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Built in Glasgow as a twin screw steamship in 1903 for Anchor Shipping, at a tad under $18,000, she was launched on 10 August that year, and commenced her delivery voyage on 14 September, heading down the Clyde to Malta, Port Said, Aden, Colombo and Albany before arriving in Nelson on 10 December, a voyage of 87 days.
The first steamship built specifically to Anchor's requirements, every vessel in Port Nelson was sporting their bunting to mark the arrival of the new flagship of the port's principal customer - not a sight you'll see these days!
In the middle of World War One, she undertook a return charter voyage from Napier to Buenos Aires, carrying trees! And during the first two months of 1940, she was briefly put into service by the Royal NZ Navy as a potential minesweeper. Her trial was unsuccessful.
Her only serious mishap in Anchor's colours came in April 1931, when she stranded in French Pass and was refloated days later. Damage was minimal, but later in the year she was converted to a motorship, and cpntinued to be one of Anchor's most profitable vessels.
Largely used on services from Nelson to Wellington, New Plymouth, Westport, Greymouth and Jackson Bay, she was particularly suited to the carriage of livestock, and often carried up to 1000 sheep or 1200 lambs from the Marlborough Sounds to the abattoirs and freezing works of Wanganui, Petone or Lyttelton.
Calls to Onehunga were rare, with her last visit being made in late 1950, shortly before her sale to a trio of Auckland businessmen.
She played a key role in saving another vessel, "Arapawa", in October 1928, but there was no vessel around to save her on 11 August 1951 near Aitutaki, to where she was en route from Suva when she was wrecked.
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