Lights Out

Or is it lighters out? The lighter "Thistle" was burnt recently by the Harbour Board after coming to the end of its useful life. Ideas of remodelling the lighter into a replica of the "Endeavour" for the Cook bi-centenary did not come to fruition so it was destroyed. The "Thistle" was built in 1898 at Whangaparoa. It was used as an ammunition tender during the Second World War.