| Vessel Name: | LYTTELTON |
| Vessel ID: | 1054008 |
| Official No: | 54008 |
| Vessel Type: | Tug |
| Owner: | Kauri Timber Company Limited |
| Built: | 1878 |
| Builder: | Laird Brothers, Birkenhead |
| Engine: | Steam twin diagonal compound engines. |
| Date of Fate: | 5 Oct 1955 |
| Type of Fate: | Beached |
| Place of Fate: | Lagoon Bay, Takat Peninsular. |
| Region of Fate: | Auckland region |
| Vessel Abstract: | Paddle tug built for Lyttelton Harbour Board. She made her way out to New Zealand under sail rigged as a brig, arriving at Lyttelton 21 Nov 1878. Whilst in service she was involved in several notable salvage feats. 1901 reboilered. Sep 1907 sold to Devonport Steam Ferry Company. 1912 sold to Kauri Timber Company and was active between Whangaroa and Coromandel ports towing rafts of kauri logs. 1941 laid up inside the Western Viaduct. 1945 superstructure destroyed in fire. 5 Oct 1955 towed north and run ashore at Lagoon Bay, Takatu Peninsular, for use as a shingle hopper. When shingle trade ceased mid-1970s the hull was left to become slowly buried in the shingle drifts. |
| Significant Date: | Sep 1907 |
| Illustration: | Cover B&W photograph of tug underway. |
