ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net
With Reuben Goossens
Maritime Historian
The Ships of
New Zealand Shipping Company
A postcard of the RMS Ruahine seen in her final days
Author’s private collection
As the RMS Ruahine was ready to depart Auckland there were countless ship lovers and past passengers on the wharf and scattered at vantage points along Auckland’s lengthy shoreline to view her departure and to take photographs of their much loved liner, a ship that had served the New Zealand Shipping Company and New Zealand so well over the many years. But, sadly with the new found popularity of air travel, passenger shipping worldwide was suffering and passenger loadings began to suffer, thus slowly many ships were being sold, ships from the grand Cunard Queens, as well as P&O liners, the New Zealand Shipping Company Passenger Cargo liners Rangitoto and Rangitane had already been sold and now it was time to dispose of the Ruahine. At the conclusion of the voyage, Ruahine would be laid up and placed on the market. But thankfully, the buyers of the Rangitoto and Rangitane would also buy her, and thus she still had a future as a cruise ship!
RMS Ruahine departed for Liverpool
As passengers had boarded in
Mr. John Happs was a passenger on this final voyage and he has some very fond memories of his voyage and he shares much of it with us though the memories of the memorabilia he has retained all these years and he hopes that we will be able to somehow be able to relive his voyage, and for those who have sailed on her and any of the other NZSC ships will revive the wonderful memories!
I am most grateful to John Happs for providing
the superb material as well as his photographs (except for those marked
otherwise) on this page.
My Reflections on RMS Ruahine’s Last Voyage
By John Happs
Wednesday, 19th June, 1968 was cool
with some drizzle in
I can’t remember how much I paid for my
ticket on the Ruahine but I have an idea it was around 450 NZD which
represented approximately 4 months pay as a teacher at that time and the price
of a small second hand car, but it was definitely less expensive than flying to
I can’t remember being especially aware that this was going to be the Ruahine’s very last voyage. I was certainly not aware of the maritime significance of this event although I do recall Captain Hollingdale making the comment that this voyage marked the “end of an era.”
The Ruahine was a relatively small
passenger-cargo ship and with only about 200 passengers it was quite easy to
meet everyone on board at some stage although, it was soon apparent that, in
addition to the numerous young people, there were quite a few elderly
passengers and family groups on board. I had just had my 25th
birthday and tended to associate mainly with the younger set, many were going
on their first overseas venture and hoping to work and live in
The cool weather and mist persisted all the next day but on Friday, The Ruahine pushed out into brilliant sunshine which persisted for the remainder of the voyage and sunbathing on one of the main hatches became very popular.
The food on the Ruahine was impressive and
plentiful. I was assigned to a table with a girl about my age (can’t
remember her name) and a retired plumber from
I was assigned to the second dinner sitting and was impressed by the menu choices, presentation and sheer quality of the food. I later learned that the Head Chef, Mick Overall was making his final voyage and, having his birthday during the voyage, arranged an impressive display of cakes and pastries which were displayed on deck one evening.
There were a number of current (at the time) movies shown on deck, including ‘You only Live Twice’; ‘To Sir With Love’; ‘Von Ryan’s Express’; ‘Hombre’ and ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’? The atmosphere at these showings was quite magical with warm evenings, usually a refreshing sea breeze and the gentle movement of the ship.
(The story continues …)
Experience
her final voyage to
The cover of the first “What’s on” as new passengers
boarded in
“What’s on” June 23
A photograph of RMS Ruahine by John Happs
Arrival at Papeete, Tahiti saw quite a few people lining up to take a tour of the island and those on our mini-bus had photographs taken at the location (Fort Venus) where Lieutenant James Cook and Charles Green, on the 3rd June, 1769, measured the time it took for the planet Venus to enter and leave the disc of the sun. This measurement enabled astronomers to determine with precision the distance between the Earth and the sun. With a keen interest in astronomy, this was one site I was determined to visit.
Interestingly, after his astronomical work was
completed, Cook went on to search for the mythical southern continent and
claimed New Zealand and
(The story continues …)
This is the James Cook Memorial in
John is the handsome bare-chested chap seated, second from the right
I recall a number of quiz evenings when teams
of 4-6 people competed with others for a range of prizes. I had become
acquainted with an interesting German gentleman with the fascinating name of Dr
Karl Klecker. It transpired that he had been a major
in the German army and had fought at
I think it was while we were still in the
(The story continues …)
“What’s on” June 29
Fun and frivolity goes on at the crossing of the Equator Ceremony at
the Pool
Special Menu for the Crossing of the Equator –
Back cover of the menu
Below - continuation of the Ships “What’s on …”
The Fancy Dress Ball Menu – July 3
RMS Ruahine is seen here berthed in
Before the Ruahine reached the Panama Canal,
we were treated to a look at some of the islands which make up the Galapagos
group to the west of
The slow journey through the
It was hot and humid and many passengers slept
on deck with the jungle only metres away. One of the older passengers reminded
us of the harsh working conditions for the workers on the
(The story continues …)
RMS Ruahine is seen here sailing trough the Culebra Cut -
Author’s private collection
Once we had passed through the Panama Canal we
went on to
(The story continues …)
The Caribbean themed “
What’s on – 11 July
The Ruahine then passed between
(The story continues …)
The superb “Mad Hatters Night” Menu Cover – July 17
Details of the artist on the cover
“What’s on” July 18
Ruahine‘s final crossing of the Atlantic home to England!
From
John Happs – 2009
*If you were a passenger on this voyage and
you would like to contact John by emailing him at; happs@istnet.net.au. Other past
Ruahine or New Zealand Shipping Co passengers are welcome to email the author
of ssmaritime at info@ssmaritime.com
and tell their stories!
Cover of the “Last Voyage” Menu Cover –
Artist’s details inside cover
Passenger List Cover of R.M.S. Ruahine - Final Voyage – June 19
to
*******************************************
INDEX
Page One… Rangitiki
Page Two-B… Ruahine (3) – The last
new built liner for NZ Shipping Co
Page Two-C… Ruahine (3) - Her final
voyage
Page Three… Photo Album 1 …
Rangitiki
Page Four… Photo Album 2 …
Rangitoto, Rangitane (2), Ruahine
(3) and Remuera (2)
Page Five… Photo Album 3 …
Rangitoto
-1947 - in Colour
Page Six… Photo Album 4 …
Rangitane
(2) - 1947 in Colour
*******************************************
If you were a passenger on this voyage and you
would like to contact John please email - info@ssmaritime.com – with John
Happs in the subject line. Other past Ruahine or New Zealand Shipping Co
passengers are also welcome to email and tell their stories!
or go to our
Who is the
Author of ssMaritime?
Email Me …
PLEASE NOTE: I receive hundreds of requests for Passenger/Crew Lists/Sailing Schedules and Deck Plans. I hereby wish to advise that I am unable to assist due
to time restrains and as most shipping companies have long gone these
lists/schedules are no longer available. I regret to advise that any request
for these will no longer be answered regardless of the circumstances presented!
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