Spectacular End of the Mitiaro Old B.P

Mitiaro Old B.P. Vessel Scuttled in the Solomons

THE blowing-up of the old steamer Mitiaro outside Tulagi Harbour, in the Solomon Islands, recently, removed a relic of an interesting chapter in the history of Burns, Philp and Co., Ltd., in the Pacific, said the “Sydney Morning Herald” on November 22.

In the early days communications be tween plantations in the Solomons group were of the most haphazard nature, but as, in the course of time, these places began to produce copra in ever-increasing quan tities, Burns, Philp and Co. Ltd. established a system of communication with schooners, which answered the purpose for many years. Then the small steamers Rogea and Sicloce were placed in commission, but, as supplies increased, they were replaced by the Maapa and the Tamarina.

The Maapa was lost at sea with all hands,

and the Tamarina was transferred to the Gilberts. Then the company put on the steamer Malaita of about 200 tons, which covered the prescribed area in much quicker time than her predecessors, and had special accommodation for passengers.

When she began to fail, the Mitiaro, a vessel 150 feet long, and of 360 tons gross, was purchased from a French company by Burns, Philp. Her original name had been Jolly Helen, later the Oceania, and finally it was altered to Mitiaro (locally Mighty Error). When the depression became acute, and copra prices fell, the Mitiaro was laid up.

She later made a few irregular trips on behalf of certain local interests before she was scrapped. On one occasion, after a hole had rusted in her side above the water line, somebody stuffed a growing coconut in the hole from the outside, and the old

ship steamed into port with a six-foot palm growing out of her side.

Lever Bros.’ motorship Kurimarau towed the vessel to sea recently, and several charges of dynamite were exploded within her, but with little result. Then the sea cocks were opened, but she did not sink for five or six hours afterwards.

When it did come the end was sudden and spectacular. There was a dull boom as the water rushed into the engine-room, and the bulkhead carried away. With nose high, she shot downward. One more burst of spray, and the ship disappeared from sight.

Mr. G. Sharood, who has been manager for many years of Messrs. A. B. Donald and Go’s establishment in Papeete, left Tahiti by the Hauraki in November for a few months’ vacation in New Zealand.