Mataura, later Alida

Date

2008

Authors

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Tech University Libraries

Abstract

Ship Name: Mataura; Sailed: 1868-1900; Type: Iron 3-masted; Built by: Glasgow, Scotland by Aitken; Dimensions: 199.4' x 33.3' x 20.3'; Tonnage: 853 tons.

Description

These images are obviously copies of some other copies that came from an old scrapbook. Dunfillan was built in 1868 and the ship (as Mataura) looks it—in fact, it looks more like a wooden ship that just happens to be built of iron. Jibboom, whisker booms, the elaboratelydecorated head and stern, and the flush deck speak of an earlier era in ship design and construction. For the men congregating at the bow, this may have been the only time their image was captured. Regardless, they seem very interested to be engaged in the photo shoot. Mataura is in dry dock, actually a graving dock made of stone, to have its bottom cleaned and to be repainted. The stern shot shows a confident master, at ease with his position and his ship. His lady is much more attuned to the photographer than anything else. The two gentlemen at the left wearing caps appear to be apprentices on their way to becoming officers themselves. Mataura is noted as the first ship to bring a cargo of frozen meat from New Zealand in 1882 (after it had been re-rigged as a bark)—thus this photograph antedates 1882. A newly-patented refrigeration plant was installed in the ship to maintain the meat. Mataura was sold Norwegian and renamed Alida. The ship dismasted in 1900 and was abandoned in the Pacific.

Keywords

Merchant Ships, Ships

Citation