Built 1879, in Nelson. Captain was James Wills ca 1890s. The ship, a screw steamer of 157 tons, had a black funnel with a white stripe, the colours of the owners, Levin & Co. In 1881 the captain was Charles Evans - an advertisement in the New Zealand Times of 20 April 1881 refers to the captain's name, calls the ship "the new screw steamer" and lists its sailing from Patea direct, thence Wanganui [to Wellington]. The agent in 1881 was John H Heaton of Panama Street, Wellington. On 6 September 1924, bound from Wellington to Kaikoura & Lyttelton, she went ashore on Waipapa Point. Attempts to refloat were unsuccessful. At the time of loss she was owned by the Wakatu Shipping Co., Wellington. See Ships with New Zealand Associations (Vol 11, p 67)
Wakatu (Ship : 1879-1924)
Futter, F R (Mrs) : Photographs of ships
Date: ca 1880s
Reference: PAColl-4370
Description: A photograph of the SS Wakatu at Kaikoura according to the caption. The initials H P are also in the caption and may be the photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s) approximately.
Murray, J P, fl 1890s :Kaikoura, 1889 [?] [1905 or 1908]
Date: 1890 - 1910
By: Murray, J P, active 1880-1890s; Futter, Frederick Roy, 1906-2001
Reference: G-542
Description: The steam ship Wakatu moored at the old wharf (the Wakatu wharf) Kaikoura in front of the Pier Hotel and other buildings Painted from an identical photo showing the Wakatu at Kaikoura waterfront. The date is difficult to decipher but the Wakatu was built late 1870s. The Wakatu had a black funnel with a white stripe, the colours of the the owners, Levin & Co. The painting shows a red funnel, but this can be explained by the fact that the painting was copied from a black and white photograph. The two-storied building on the waterfront is a hotel. The Wakatu wharf is now almost destroyed. The Pier Hotel still exists, but was moved, possibly about 1900, to another location on the waterfront. Other Titles - S. S. Wakatu at Kaikoura in front of the Pier Hotel Signed: J.P. Murray. Quantity: 1 oil(s). Physical Description: Oil on canvas 490 x 710 mm Provenance: James Wills, Captain of the Wakatu, was the donor's grandfather (see AT 13/14/2, 9/4/91).
Levin & Co Papers Collection : Photograph of the SS Wakatu
Date: ca 1880s
By: Levin & Company Ltd; Harris, Charles Henry, -1907
Reference: PAColl-4461
Description: The SS Wakatu moored at the wharf at Kaikoura with warehouses and possibly a hotel on the shore. Photograph taken by C H Harris. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Provenance: Note on the reverse of the mount says "ex: Levin & Co papers". Details of deposit unknown.
Client files - Virtue-S S Wakatu
Date: 1888, 1904
From: Levin & Company Ltd : Records
Reference: MS-Papers-1347-3/2/115
Description: Legal files relating to Elizabeth H Virtue and Marga Virtue et al, Wellington, 1904; S S Wakatu (purchased from James Herbert Williams), 1904 Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Muir and Moodie fl 1898-1916 :Steamship Wakatu, Wellington Harbour
Date: 1904
From: Burton Bros
Reference: MM-2814-1/1-G
Description: The steamship `Wakatu' on Wellington Harbour, 1904, with Oriental Bay in the background. Photograph taken by Muir & Moodie. Inscriptions: Photographer's title on negative - bottom left - 2814. Wellington Harbour. Protd 2.6.04. Muir Moodie. Dunedin. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Dry plate glass negative 6.5 x 8.5 inches
Queens Wharf, Wellington
Date: 11 March 1912
From: Smith, Sydney Charles, 1888-1972: Photographs of New Zealand
Reference: 1/1-020022
Description: Queens Wharf, Wellington, taken 11 March 1912 by Sydney Charles Smith. Shows shipping and Harbour Board sheds. Ships include the Countess of Errol, Opawa, Oreti, Mana, Kahu, Devonport, Wakatu, Mokoia, Maori, Turakina, and Pateena. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Negative
The S S Patea steaming out of the Patea River, and the Wakatu being repaired on the bre...
Date: Feb 1882
Reference: 1/2-081058-F
Description: The S S Patea steaming out of the Patea River, and the Wakatu being repaired on the breakwater. Photograph taken February 1882 by an unidentified photographer. Other - Note on back of file print reads: "S S Patea 79 tons Outward bound" Source of descriptive information - Ian Church, Little ships of Patea (Palmerston North [N.Z.] : Dunmore Press, 1977), plates between 14-15. Church's source is listed as being Otago daily Times and Witness Christmas Annual 1899, Hocken Library. The `Patea' was built in 1878 and wrecked at Patea on 11 April 1882. (Information from Watts Index) Quantity: 1 b&w copy negative(s).