Story: Shipping

The Union Company’s original fleet

The Union Company’s original fleet

In 1875 James Mills formed the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand to take over the Maori, Beautiful Star and Bruce from the Harbour Steam Company, and to build the Hawea and Taupo in Scotland. The new 720-ton ships were big – comparable to sailing ships trading to the United Kingdom – but more importantly, their new compound steam engines were much more efficient than the competition’s. Ships like these made travel safe and reliable.

Using this item

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Reference: 50th anniversary of the founding of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand Limited. Wellington: Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, 1925, p. 13

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How to cite this page:

Gavin McLean, 'Shipping - The era of steam', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/ephemera/5671/the-union-companys-original-fleet (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Gavin McLean, published 12 Jun 2006, updated 1 Jan 2016