SS ''Rotomahana'' was an 1876 harbour steamer and the first iron vessel to be built in
Auckland
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...
, though launched only 28 minutes ahead of another, though smaller, iron ship. Rotomahana was a name used by at least two other ships of the era, presumably because
Rotomahana
Lake Rotomahana is an lake in northern New Zealand, located 20 kilometres to the south-east of Rotorua. It is immediately south-west of the dormant volcano Mount Tarawera, and its geography was substantially altered by a major 1886 eruption of Mo ...
and its
Pink and White Terraces
The Pink and White Terraces ( and ), were natural wonders of New Zealand. They were reportedly the largest silica sinter deposits on earth. Until recently, they were lost and thought destroyed in the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera, while new hy ...
had become better known after the Duke of Edinburgh visited in 1870.
Until 1888 ''Rotomahana'' worked for her builders, Fraser & Tinne, flying their yellow
house-flag
A maritime flag is a flag designated for use on ships, boats, and other watercraft. Naval flags are considered important at sea and the rules and regulations for the flying of flags are strictly enforced. The flag flown is related to the country ...
with a phoenix and taking a bit over 4 hours to ply the Auckland–
Thames
The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after the ...
route. Theodore Tinne left the partnership in 1882, leaving the firm in the sole ownership of
George Fraser George Fraser may also refer to:
* George Fraser (New Zealand engineer) (1832–1901), New Zealand engineer, foundry proprietor and ship owner
* George Fraser (Canadian football) (1911–1992), Canadian football player
* George Fraser (footballer) ( ...
. In the later 1880s George faced increasing financial pressures.
''Rotomahana'' was one of the assets he sold. She was bought by M.T. Clayton of Auckland in 1888 and, from 1888 to 1890, was run by New Zealand Insurance Co. They sold her to Captain Worsp on 3 April 1890 for £2,225, but he had sold her to Northern Steamship Co by 12 July 1890. ''Rotomahana'' continued serving Thames until June 1898, when she was replaced by the larger and faster ''Wakatere'' and she switched to the
Coromandel
Coromandel may refer to:
Places India
*Coromandel Coast, India
** Presidency of Coromandel and Bengal Settlements
**Dutch Coromandel
*Coromandel, KGF, Karnataka, India
New Zealand
*Coromandel, New Zealand, a town on the Coromandel Peninsula
*Coro ...
run. Occasionally she served other
Hauraki Gulf
The Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana is a coastal feature of the North Island of New Zealand. It has an area of 4000 km2,Great Barrier Island#Settlements, Port Fitzroy, Okupu and Tryphena on Great Barrier Island.
After overheating, she was re-engined by Fraser & Tinne in 1879. In another major refit in 1891 her boiler was moved forward, its pressure increased, extra
compound
Compound may refer to:
Architecture and built environments
* Compound (enclosure), a cluster of buildings having a shared purpose, usually inside a fence or wall
** Compound (fortification), a version of the above fortified with defensive struct ...
cylinders added and her masts reduced from 3 to 2.
Apart from regular maintenance and the major rebuilds, the only event out of the ordinary occurred on 28 May 1911, a day when the Auckland- Devonport ferry got lost, and ''Rotomahana'' ran aground near
Motuihe Island
Motuihe Island (official name: Motuihe Island / Te Motu-a-Ihenga) lies between Motutapu and Waiheke islands in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand, near Auckland. The island measures , of which around are remnants of coastal forest. The island is ...
in heavy fog. However, she refloated on the rising tide and suffered no damage.
''Rotomahana''s last day of service seems to have been 28 October 1914, as she was shortly after given a survey and then
laid up
A reserve fleet is a collection of naval vessels of all types that are fully equipped for service but are not currently needed; they are partially or fully decommissioned. A reserve fleet is informally said to be "in mothballs" or "mothballed"; a ...
. She was later used for oil storage, until being dismantled and then sold to McCallum Bros, who beached her on
Pakihi Island
Pakihi Island is a privately-owned island located in the Hauraki Gulf to the east of the city of Auckland, New Zealand. With an area of , it is one of the smallest of the Hauraki Gulf Islands. It is located 1 km southwest of Ponui Island, and 1.5 ...
in 1924, for use as a wharf. Remains of her hull were still visible in 1999.