WAIMA
SPRAY
Wooden Boats On The Hokianga – Waima and Spray
I received today’s photos recently from Ngaire Slade, her father was Dick (Henry Richards) Slade. Ngaire commented that she wished that she had learnt more of the histories of the boats that had been the main transport modes in the Hokianga. The Waima was a boat that Dick owned until sold in the 1980s and retired. Waima then went over to the East Coast and Ngaire understands it was left for years in the Manukau Harbour till removed and left to decay and disrepair, unfortunately placed in a yard somewhere unknown. It was originally brought from the Subritzky family.
Dick for many years carried the college kids to Rawene High School and did the Cream Run as well before the Dairy was closed. He also carried out the Mail Run on the Hokianga Harbour. In those days, the boats could reach the Mungamuka bridge and up to the Taheke bridge. In the last photo of Waima we see Harry Slade father of Dick and grandad to Ngaire taking a car from Kohukohu to Rawene.
The 2nd set of photos – we see the launch – Spray, owned by Harry Slade. Ngaire mentioned that there was a Sierra and Tupuwai that were other prominent boats in her family. In some of the photos we see a pet seal that mooched around for several years. In one photo the seal is watching Harry as he is cleaning some launches. Ngaire commented the seal wasn’t the friendliest and would try and bite the odd person who he disliked. She remembers her father saying he was a foul rascal as he dirtied the boat all the time.
Below we see Dick scratching Opo the dolphin with a mop, she would follow him out to the heads when he would go fishing and come up to Rawene.
Mystery Launch – could the below be Sierra or Tupuwai?
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Hi Sarah – email a copy of the painting to the address below and I will add to the story. Many Thanks Alan
waitematawoodys@gmail.com
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I have a watercolour painting of the Waima doing a cream run in the Hokianga, it is part of a series of painting by Thomas Kelsey depicting a story of a Jack Russell dog jumping overboard and then eventually being returned to its owner.
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Would the myystery launch be the “Sea Queen”? Broached and lost on the Hokianga bar around the late 1950’s, sadly with loss of life.
Before and after the time of ‘Opo’ there was also a launch operated by Mayne Bryers – the “Sonoma”. This was a one time A S Andrewes & Sons launch, like the “Sierra”, and could have been a sister ship.
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