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Zephyr II
 Taken by G.R. Ferguson. Sourced from NZ Coastal Shipping Forum
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Built by Gebr Niestern & Co in Delfzijl, Holland, for the North Westland Shipping Co. Ltd., she is powered by Raston diesels, and was the smallest trading vessel to come to New Zealand from the continent for twenty years.
She was named after a topsail barquentine which crossed the Tasman from Melbourne to Hokitika in record time, averaging eighteen knots. This achievement is recognised by a stained glass window located between the Master's cabin and the dayroom, depicting the record-breaking voyage.
The II was added to "Zephyr"'s name for registration purposes, as another vessel was known by that name. The name change was never recorded on her hull - it was a paperwork only exercise!
There were a couple of other revolutionary things with her. Her captain and crew did all the cargo handling work as well - usually the domain of stevedores, while at the helm of "Zephyr II" was a device which greatly assisted the berthing process, a small wheel and lever giving the helmsman full and direct control of the speed and direction of the engines - a first for any ship on the New Zealand coast.
Her Master, Captain A. Goldie, said of his charge, "You can drive her like a car except that she has no brakes!"
She briefly traded on the South Island's west coast before undertaking a twelve-month charter to Anchor Shipping, for whom she plied the daily Wellington - Nelson service.
In 1953, she was chartered by Gisborne Sheepfarmers Frozen Meat & Mercantile Co., for whom she served the Auckland - Gisborne trade while the company's principle ship, "Turihaua", undertook repairs.
Her time in New Zealand was short-lived, as in 1956 she was purchased by the Suva-based Burns Philp (South Sea) Co Ltd for Pacific Islands trading.
During her time in the islands, she served a number of owners in Suva and Port Vila, none of whom changed her original name until 1989, when she became "Mat I" for her new owners in Tarawa.
When her owner died nine years later, she was laid up at anchor off the port of Betio in South Tarawa, Solomon Islands. Soon after, she sunk at her moorings.
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