SS Kaiwarra 1919-1942

The Kaiwarra was built in 1919 by J. Blumer & Company in Sunderland, England. The World War 1 standard type, Single Screw Steam propulsion ship was created as a war ship for the British Government. 

It was purchased by the Union Steam Ship Company (USSCo.) in 1919 as it became surplus to requirement during construction. 

It had a 32-year service with the USSCo. which was unremarkable except in 1936 when it made headlines as one of the first carrying overseas airmail from Sydney to Picton - which was then flown by Union Airways from Blenheim to the main centres.  Kaiwarra made headlines again on 4 December 1942 while sailing from Lyttelton to Sydney when it was stranded 1 ½ miles (about 2 1/2 km) north of Motunau Island, North Canterbury, New Zealand and was wrecked.