The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website | home
Gael | Gamma | Guardian Carrier | Ha'amotaha | Hauiti | Hauturu | Hawea | Hokianga | Holmbank | Holmbrae | Holmburn | Holmburn | Holmdale | Holmglen | Holmglen | Holmlea | Holmlea | Holmpark | Holmwood | Hotunui | Hunte | Ile De Lumiere | Inaha | Induna | Inger Riis | Inparma Progress | Jackson Bay | Jaguar | James M Cook | Jaya No. 6 | Jean Philippe | Jill Coast | Josephine | Kaapgracht | Kaitoa | Kali | Karepo | Karetu
Holmlea
 Sourced from NZ Ship & Marine Society
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Built in Goole in 1921 for owners in Middlesbrough, she had the early distinction of being sold three times in a year in 1924!
A mortgagee sale attracted Newcastle owners, who swiftly shifted her onto another interested party in England's north-east. A further sale was on the cards, however, with Kenneth McLeay acquiring the vessel for Richardson & Co. of Napier, where she arrived in October 1924 and was soon renamed "Parera".
She entered the east coast service, but was taken on charter for two years by Anchor Shipping in 1928. Five years after that deal commenced, in 1933, she was laid up in Napier, but was chartered in March 1934 by Holm & Co.
They acquired her two years later and renamed her "Holmlea", unleashing her on the Wellington to New Plymouth and Port Waikato service, a trade she served until the war years saw her serving the Government's needs, carrying coal to North Island ports from the west coast.
After the war, she visited many a New Zealand port, Onehunga included, on numerous occasions, and there was one particular voyage to Westport in February 1948 which prompted a marine enquiry!
She had sailed from Westport but was taking on water in the engine room. Turns out the wrong valves had been opened and closed, and the chief engineer responsible, a character of many years' standing, had been sailing all this time without a certificate - he'd used his father's certificate when first signing on many moons earlier, and no one thought to check thereafter!
She was sold to Australian interests in January 1950, but exactly a year later met her end, foundering on the New South Wales coast with six lives lost.
 Sourced from NZ Marine News 1999 Volume 48 Quarter 2
|