The end of an era

The recent sinking of the barge "Kotare" about four miles off Godley Head, Lyttelton, really brings to mind the end of an era of lightering and loading of ships on the open water in Poverty Bay.

The "Kotare", a 100 foot lighter, was on its way to Port Chalmers when, due to rough seas and the shipment of water, it sank in about 70 feet of water.

The "Kotare", built about 35 years ago, was one of several lighters used to transfer goods and cargo to ships anchored in the bay. The new wharf has, of course, done away with all this. The "Kotare" was to be converted to a refrigerated boat to work in the sounds and transport deer meat out of the West Coast of the South Island.

The pictures on these pages show the departure of the lighter and recall the kind of work done by these vessels in the past.

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The tug "Koutunui" tows the "Kotare" out of Gisborne Harbour.

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Mate Malcolm Pearson (Little Akaloa), Captain Geoff Keyse, (Dunedin), Chief Engineer Thomas Smith (Dunedin), Seamen Alf Berchall (Dunedin), and Charlie Charleson (Port Chalmers), and Seaman/Cook Alby Wellgreen (Port Chalmers) are the crew of the "Koutunui" which towed the illfated "Kotare".

From the "Photo News" of July, 1954, these pictures show some of the activities of the lighters and tugs in those days.

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A tug tows a lighter out to the waiting Wairangi.

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Looking down from the Wairangi on a lighter as it comes alongside for unloading.

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Making fast the lighter to the ship.