Global InformationSS Go Ahead information
 S.S. Go Ahead 1867-1887
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 New Zealand | |
| Name | Go Ahead |
| Owner |
|
| Builder | Thomas B Seath & Co, Upper Clyde |
| Launched | 20 April 1867 |
| Stricken | 20 May 1887 |
| Homeport | Auckland until 10 January 1878, then Wellington |
| Identification | 56189 |
| Fate | Grounded at Cape Kidnappers in fog |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Topsail schooner |
| Tonnage | Registered 82 tons dwt |
| Length | keel 110 ft (34 m), overall 120 ft (37 m) |
| Beam | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Draught | 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m) |
| Depth of hold | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) |
SS Go Ahead was a twin screw-steamer, launched on the afternoon of Saturday 20 April 1867 by Seath and Connell, of Rutherglen, for the Clyde Shipping Company, with a plan to use her in New Zealand coastal trading.[1] She had 30,[2] or 35 hp (26 kW), high pressure engines, and tubular boilers from Campbell & Son's foundry.[3]
Go-a-head left Glasgow on 10 May and sailed to Melbourne, arriving on 2 November.[4] An attempt to sell her failed, so on 2 December 1867[5] she left Hobson's Bay[6] with a full cargo for Westport (then called Buller).[7] She had to sail for an additional 12 days to get to Buller, where she briefly landed on the North Spit.[8] This time she was advertised by Wellington agents, A. P. Stuart & Co, the sale notice saying she had, "a draught of 4 feet of water, will carry 1000 sheep. Highly suited for trading between this and the West Coast."[9] The "highly suited" and "Must be sold, owner leaving the colony"[10] claims may not have been true; she used her engines to get from Buller to Wellington, but, "finding steam could not be maintained with the bad coals she had on board, she ran for Nelson for better fuel".[11]
She finally reached Wellington on 4 January 1868.[12] Initially she was to sail for Napier,[13] but additions and repairs,[14] apparently amidst some delay,[15] strife over payments[16] and a failure to sell her,[17] left her lying at Queen's wharf for months. A trial trip to Evans Bay showed the boiler was too small. There was a rumour of her carrying cattle from Whanganui to the West Coast[18] and she was advertised many times,[19][20][21][22] before going with Captain Mundle[23] to Auckland in August.[24]
- ^ "ENGLISH SHIPPING. DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 24 June 1867. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Marine Department Annual Report". atojs.natlib.govt.nz. 1878. p. 23. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Customs Entries. Otago Daily Times". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 23 November 1867. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE". Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918). 5 November 1867. p. 2. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE". Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918). 3 December 1867. p. 2. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Telegrams. Wellington Independent". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 17 December 1867. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Grey River Argus". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 14 December 1867. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Imports. Grey River Argus". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 17 December 1867. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Hawke's Bay Herald". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 3 December 1867. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Wellington Independent". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 January 1868. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Shipping Intelligence. Colonist". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 3 January 1868. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Shipping. Lyttelton Times". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 6 January 1868. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Wellington Independent". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 7 January 1868. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Wellington Independent". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 9 January 1868. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Evening Post". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 25 January 1868. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Shipping. Wellington Independent". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 22 February 1868. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Arrived. Wellington Independent". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 8 February 1868. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Telegrams. Wellington Independent". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 5 May 1868. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Wellington Independent". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 19 May 1868. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Wanganui Herald". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 28 May 1868. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Wellington Independent". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 18 August 1868. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Evening Post". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 26 August 1868. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Wanganui Herald". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 29 August 1868. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Port Of Wellington. Evening Post". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 29 August 1868. Retrieved 24 September 2020.