The Annual Visits to Great Barrier Island of the NZ Training Ship ‘Amokura’.  

 

The annual visit to Great Barrier Island of the New Zealand Government training ship Amokura occurred from 1909 at least until 1913, possibly until 1915.

The three-masted steam ship carried three square sails on the foremast, but was fore-and-aft rigged on the two others. It was 165 feet long, and had a single 720hp steam engine that pushed her along at a 13 kt cruising speed.

The trainees were between 13 an 15 years of age, and spent two years under instruction.

Most of the vessel’s cruising was done under canvas.

Her usual run was, towards the end of the year, from Wellington to Picton and then Port Chalmers, thence to the Auckland Islands, Campbell Islands, Antipodes and Bounty and back to Wellington. In the New Year she sailed North, calling at the Kermadecs, Great Barrier Island, Auckland, then South-about for Winter quarters at Port Nicholson (Wellington).

While at the outlying islands she would check for castaways, and depots left on them for such emergencies.

“Amokura had led Captain Scott's deeply laden Terra Nova from Port Chalmers right down through Taiaroa Heads on his departure in 1910 for his disastrous trip to the Antarctic and the South Pole. Outside the Heads, we waited until the extra deeply laden polar ship wallowing along astern came up to us and then, with an instructor and a cadet gun crew at each six-pounder, we fired a Captain's salute and gave the famous man and his crew three hearty cheers. Believe me, we put all we could into those cheers. Then we watched her slowly heading away southwards to the ice whilst Amokura changed course for Bluff”.

In 1911, the Amokura brought the Bell family back from the Kermadecs, calling in at Great Barrier, before dropping off in Auckland. The Bell family had lived for many years at Raoul (or Sunday) Island, but were driven off by the effects of a water spout.

The Amokura’s skipper for the training voyages was Captain Hooper.

And then the Great War intervened.

 

The Training Ship Amokura

Auckland, December 1^st. - The training ship Amokura

Arrived this morning having visited the Kermadecs

and other islands for the purpose of searching for

castaways of wreckage, and replentishing the depots.

There was no trace of the Clan Macpherson or any other

vessel.

Source: West Coast Times 2^nd December, 1909, p4.

 

Returning to the Mainland

(By telegraph - per Press Association)

      Wellington April 11^th.

The captain of the Government training ship Amokura, which

Has reached Great Barrier, after visiting the Kermadec

Islands, telegraphs to the Marine Department that she has

Brought the Bell family from Sunday Island, where they have

Resided for many years.

      The Bells have abandoned Sunday Island owing to a water

spout having demolished their home and devastated their crops.

Source: Grey River Argus 13^th April, 1911.

Back From Kermadecs   

The Amokura, which was sent to the Kermadecs about a fortnight  

ago, arrived at the Great Barrier today. In a telegram to the

Marine Department Captain Hooper saysb that he did not find

any castaways, or wreckage on any of the islands and that the

inhabitants of Sunday Island are well. The Amokura will reach

Auckland tomorrow, and leave on Saturday for Wellington,

arriving here about Tuesday next.

Source: Grey River Argus 13 April, 1911.