Rangitoto Ships' Graveyard

Columbia (Show Boat)

4 masted schooner

The Columbia was originally a four-masted schooner of 684 tons. She was built at Hoquiam, Washington USA in 1899, and measured 181 x 39 x 14 feet. The Columbia was initially used in the timber trade out of Honolulu.

1899	Built at Hoquiam, Washington USA in 1899. The vessel came to Napier with a load of timber, and was purchased by the Devonport Steam Ferry Company and sailed to Auckland.
1935	She was stripped of fittings and used as a coal hulk for a number of years, before being turned into a floating cabaret called the Show Boat in 1935. The Show Boat was fitted with two dance floors, one in the hold and one on the deck, which was roofed over. Each floor was about 120 feet long and over 30 feet wide. The vessel was moored at Mechanics Bay.
1938	On 1 March 1938, the vessel was found listing with the lower decks flooded. Although sabotage was suspected (as there had been previous attempts), it transpired that marine borer had attacked the hull through the seams of the copper sheathing.

Disposal

Columbia Hulk on fire, Rangitoto

Initially it was proposed to burn the vessel in situ alongside the eastern reclamation.

However on 23 September 1938 the Harbour Master sought permission to place the vessel on the rocks on the northern side of Rangitoto Island, to allow it to be burnt.

This was granted on 13 October 1938 on the condition that the bush in the vicinity was not endangered.

The vessel was towed to Rangitoto and set on fire on October 26. On 15 December of that year, inspection revealed that 3/4 of the bottom of the vessel was still intact and afloat at high water and was secured to the rocks with a wire hauser.