Men working on a bulk wheat cargo in 1964.
Photograph: Northern Steam Ship Company Photograph Album
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In the
1960s a service was begun with the MARANUI carrying bulk
grain. During the early 1970s there was demand for South
Island wheat in Auckland and this proved to be another
profitable time for Northern Steam Ship Company. The
Company purchased BAY FISHER (to be renamed MOANUI) and
DIDO to carry the grain from the South Island. This was
only short-lived however, a drop in the production of
wheat in the South Island due to a drought in 1973,
meant the Company had to find alternative cargoes for
their three ships, MOANUI, DIDO and TAINUI II.
DIDO was sent to Australia to
carry grain for stock food, discharging her last cargo
at Auckland between 22nd and 25th July 1974, and after
that was laid up. The other two vessels were to suffer
the same fate. Before being laid up at the Viaduct,
MOANUI carried her last cargo of barley from the South
Island to Auckland in September 1974. TAINUI II brought
coal from Westport in November 1974; this was the last
cargo carried by a Northern Company vessel.
After
ninety-four years of service the Northern Steam Ship
Company sold the last three vessels in their fleet and
ceased to operate as a ship-owner. For a few years
afterwards the Company continued as a fork-hoist
operator and as a shipping agency, acting as agent for
the Japan Line.
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