SS Taupo: wreck, salvage and repair, 1879-1881, moments in history

Before Pae Korokī and Papers Past, the New Zealand Room librarians would note topics of interest in an alphabetised card catalogue, this is their selection of mentions of the salvage and repair of the SS Taupo in the Bay of Plenty Times and other sources.

See also: Ships and shipping moments in history

Wreck, Feb 1879:

• Full account of the the wreck of the Taupo in Tauranga Harbour. The SS Katikati was helping at. Bay of Plenty Times, 20 February 1879.
• Editorial re Taupo disaster and wrath of Captain Marks. Bay of Plenty Times, 3 April 1879.

 

Commission and official enquiry, Mar-June 1879:

• Official enquiry into SS Taupo disaster. Bay of Plenty Times, 1 and 4 March 1879.
• Taupo enquiry: petition to the Government. Bay of Plenty Times, 11 March 1879.
• Commission into the stranding of the Taupo. Evidence. Bay of Plenty Times, 27 May 1879.
• Finding of second enquiry into wreck of Taupo. Captain Marks censured again. Bay of Plenty Times, 26 June 1879.

 

Salvage and sale, 1879-1880:

• Description of pumping out. Bay of Plenty Times, 27 February 1879.
• Work on salvage. Bay of Plenty Times, 8, 11, 13, 20 and 25 March 1879.
• Attempt to raise the SS Taupo. Bay of Plenty Times, 5 May 1879.
• Taupo still wrecked at harbour entrance. Bay of Plenty Times, 20 and 22 May 1879.
• Salvage contractors Gouk and Hawkswood arrived by the SS Glenelg. Bay of Plenty Times, 24 May 1879.
• Progress on salvage of the Taupo. Bay of Plenty Times, 5 June 1879.
• Work abandoned yesterday on salvage. Bay of Plenty Times, 3 July 1879.
• SS Taupo to be sold by auction on 22 July 1879. Bay of Plenty Times, 8 July 1879.
• It is understood that the engine, machinery and gear have been removed. Bay of Plenty Times, 15 July 1879.
• Wreck of Taupo purchased for £1,400 in July and still lying on rocks. Bay of Plenty Times, 18 September 1879.
• Mr Winter the purchaser of the Taupo has returned from the Australian and Southern ports having been successful in finding experienced men and appliances to raise the vessel. Bay of Plenty Times, 11 October 1879.
• Preparations going ahead for raising SS Taupo. Bay of Plenty Times, 9 December 1879.
• Work on salvaging the Taupo. Bay of Plenty Times, 27 January 1880.
• Salvage of Taupo still proceeding. Bay of Plenty Times, 5 February 1880.
• Further salvage attempt on SS Taupo. Bay of Plenty Times, 26 February 1880.
• Mr Selph has taken over the contract for raising of the SS Taupo. Bay of Plenty Times, 4 March 1880.
• Attempt to float SS Taupo. Bay of Plenty Times, 13 April 1880.
• Further work on salvage of SS Taupo. Bay of Plenty Times, 13 May 1880.
• SS Taupo remains stuck. Bay of Plenty Times, 27 July 1880.
• Wreck of Taupo still lying at Mount. Work on salvage not entirely abandoned. Bay of Plenty Times, 14 September 1880.
• SS Taupo still not salvaged but not entirely abandoned. Bay of Plenty Times, 5 October 1880.
• SS Taupo still at Mount Maunganui, underwent another inspection. Bay of Plenty Times, 23 November 1880.
• Salvage of the Taupo, to be sandwiched between two hulks, Martha and Clara Hargreaves. Bay of Plenty Times, 11 December 1880.
• Another attempt to be made to salvage the Taupo. Bay of Plenty Times, 1 January 1881.
• Another attempt to salvage the Taupo again fails, but to try again. Bay of Plenty Times, 3 February 1881.
• Three attempts to raise Taupo on Monday and Tuesday etc. Bay of Plenty Times, 24 February 1881.
• Further attempts to salvage Taupo. Bay of Plenty Times, 1 March 1881.

 

Success, March 1881

• Taupo successfully raised. Bay of Plenty Times, 3 March 1881.
• A visit to SS Taupo, lying in the Harbour. Bay of Plenty Times, 31 March 1881.

 

Repairs, March-April 1881:

• repairs to Taupo. Bay of Plenty Times, 8 March 1881.
• false bottom in course of construction. Bay of Plenty Times, 19 April 1881.
• description of repairs carried out. Bay of Plenty Times, 21 April 1881.
• beached on spit for further repairs. Bay of Plenty Times, 23 April 1881.

 

Towing towards Auckland, April-May 1881:

• towed to Auckland by SS Wellington. Bay of Plenty Times, 30 April 1881.
• foundered on way to Auckland. Bay of Plenty Times, 5 May 1881.
• insurance cover on SS Taupo. Bay of Plenty Times, 17 May 1881.

 

SS Taupō, 1879, photo taken by Charles Spencer as she was lying on the rocks at Stoney Point, Tauranga Harbour. Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Photo 05-445

---

Other resources:

Bay of Plenty Times. (2011, May 14). Divers delve into 130-year history. https://www.nzherald.co.nz

Bay of Plenty Times. (2011, May 24). Hostile Bay fishermen ruin survey wreck-dive. Divers delve into 130-year history. https://www.nzherald.co.nz

Clement, Christine. (n.d.). New Zealand Wreck of the the SS Taupo Tauranga Harbour Tuesday 18 February 1879. https://www.sooty.nz/

Payne, Brett. (2019, September 13). Charles Spencer (1854-1933) – Part III – Serving the Community. Tauranga Historical Society.