Komuri

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KOMURI

Today’s photo comes to us from Heather England’s fb and shows a very smart looking steamer. The photo was originally sent to Heather’s grandmother in 1912 when she was 12.,  and has a Dunedin post mark stamped on the rear, so the possible location surprise surprise is Dunedin. The photo is tagged Komuri on the back, which is the maori word for ‘fine weather’ which kind of sounds like a good name for a boat.

Would love to learn more about the vessel and what became of her – she is a real looker.

Input from Harold Kidd – KOMURI was built in Dunedin in 1913 by Austen Jenkinson to a design by McRae for James Johnston. She had a 2 cylinder Bolinder semi-diesel crude oil engine. She was sold in 1916 to the lessees of Campbell Island for whaling. On the trip down she had an engine breakdown and was abandoned at sea, the crew took to the surfboat. Long story. (thanks Nathan Hebert for the advising the correct spelling)

And On A Lighter Note
I was sent the image below by a WW follower, whose daughter has too much spare time during lock-down. I have enlarged a section to help you see the blatant breach of copyright 🙂

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9 thoughts on “Komuri”

  3. Am interested in getting a good image of the KOMURI alongside at (Dunedin?) posted by Heather England. I had one of a port bow on view from Sea Spray magazine a couple of decades ago but lost it.

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  4. In 1976, whaler Joseph Timms (Picton) told of KOMURI’s 1918 loss at Campbell Island. The Campbell Island Company purchased KOMURI to assist with mustering (island same size as Waiheke) – and for whaling. Right whales are at the island in winter. There was, reportedly, an issue with the motor’s compressed air restart. Albert Metzger (Invercargill), engineer, vainly tried to restart the motor when off the island’s southeast coast. All seven men who were on the island were on board. They abandoned KOMURI and took to the longboat they had in tow when the island was low on the horizon, and pulled for South East Harbour, which they made by dark. Joe wondered if they bothered to use the set of sails known to be stored in the forward lockers.

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  5. Mmm… Komuri flows so much more easily off the tongue. I didn’t think she was steam -insufficient plumbing on the funnel. You’d need to get the exhaust from a semi diesel up out of the way at least until it was up to running temperature. They usually kept running once going. Sad she is no longer with us. Tell us more, Harold.
    But what a fabulous picture the ship centre stage and centre stage of her that great clinker dinghy with great run of the strakes -well done that man!

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  6. The artist would be Maddie, Cam at the slipways daughter 😉 she has talent out her ears!! Also does a good special effects blood and gore package amongst others 😉

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  7. KOMURI was built in Dunedin in 1913 by Austen Jenkinson to a design by McRae for James Johnston. She had a 2 cylinder Bolinder semi-diesel crude oil engine. She was sold in 1916 to the lessees of Campbell Island for whaling. On the trip down she had an engine breakdown and was abandoned at sea, the crew took to the surfboat. Long story.

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  8. The way I went about looking this boat up from Heather’s photo a few days ago was pretty simple- Komuai has no place in Te Reo, so I guessed at Komuri and sure enough came up as this boat on Paperspast

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