Still going strong
p. 113 · Read in the full issue
after 54 years in the Islands is the 97 ft schooner “Tiare Taporo”, seen here at Vila, New Hebrides, recently. Built in New Zealand for A. B. Donald Ltd. in 1913, she was first used as a trader in the Society Islands, based at Papeete. After World War I she entered the Cook Islands trade, but return ed to the Societies in 1949.
Two notable South Seas skip pers commanded her —the late Captain Viggo Rasmussen and Captain Andy Thomson, who now lives in retirement on Rarotonga. In March, 1964, the “Tiare Taporo” was sold to Mr. W. B. Christophers, of Rotorua, NZ, who resold her a few months later to her present owner, Mr. Tom Low, of Vila, who is now using her in the New Hebrides trade.
The schooner was badly damaged by fire in May, 1965.