HMNZS Fairmile Q408 Later KARAMANA II & COLVILLE

Q 408 Fairmile , post war names KARAMANA II & COLVILLE , last report 1985 in Fiji
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HMNZS Fairmile Q408 at anchor in the Solomon Islands

An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q408 in Auckland Harbour. Port side view of a small warship underway, Q408 on the bow, signal flags flying, land in the background. On the reverse are the notes “1hr” “Q 408”. Auckland, Circa 1943.
Maker
Collins, Tudor Washington (b.1898, d.1970)

Original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q408 in the Hauraki Gulf. Starboard side view of a small warship underway, Q408 on the bow, guns manned, land in the backgrouond. On the reverse in pencil at the top is “8 of 112”. There is a stamp with “Photo by T W Collins, Warkworth” and another with “Copyright Brian Collins, 54 Covil Avenue, Te Atatu”. In red pen at the bottom is “Q408”. Auckland.

An original black and white photograph of Fairmile Q408 in Auckland Harbour. Port bow view of a small warship underway, Q408 on the bow, signal flags flying, land in the background. On the reverse are the notes “80F 38” and a stamp with “Copyright by Brian Collins, 54 Covil Avenue, Te Atatu”. Auckland, Circa 1943.

Fairmile Q408 – KARAMANA II is a WW II 105 ft Fairmile converted to a pleasure craft circa 1945-46 by the Cadman family powered by 2 x 6-71 GM Detroit diesels, or the Graymarine version of them, & was undoubtedly, the very best pleasure craft Fairmile conversion, I ever saw. From the outside she was, in my view, aesthetically lovely. I took this pic circa1948 on her moorings in Hobson Bay. She was always immaculate & hardly used, Disappeared from there in the early 1950s, & I never saw her again — I think perhaps she may have gone to the Pacific Islands.
Any news anyone has would be great, just email me at kenpat@ihug.co.nzQuoting from Bob McDougall’s epic record “New Zealand Naval Vessels:
ML408 [Built Shipbuilders] sold fire damaged 4/47 to Rylands Ltd but resold and renamed Karamana by Cadmans. ON178439. Private use Auckland. Renamed Colville 1956 Hauraki Gulf whaling tender to 1963 then on to lighthouse and passenger services Auckland. To Fiji for islands trading 1976. Sunk on Tuvuca Reef Tavua north coast of Viti Levu 11/4/79 on voyage Savusava to Lautoka. Salvaged and repaired. Renamed Adi Litia by 1985 for cruises from Nadi.
They were 112′ x 18.2′ x 5’2”.
I preferred them as per original -but lots of deck space. Ngaroma looked good. If there was to be a conversion, Deborah Bay wasn’t too bad. Funnily enough, I thought Kahu -the one that was up harbour looked reasonable.

MV COLVILLE, moored alongside Moko Hinau, captained by Bunty Brown. Vessel described by photographer as a ‘lighthouse tender ex Fairmile and whalechaser. Would roll on wet grass. Known as the chunder bus.’

Photographer’s caption: “MV COLVILLE departs Moko Hinau to return to Auckland; skipper Bunty Brown. The COLVILLE came every two weeks with stores. A very obliging crew. When Charlie Mellows arrived with his family and chooks Bunty let the chooks out in the hold and Charlie’s chooks enjoyed the trip on improvised perch’s from broom and mop handles.”
Murray Williscroft was a lighthouse keeper, who, along with his wife Ventris worked on a number of stations around New Zealand in the 1950s-60s.

MV COLVILLE moored at Tryphena wharf, Great Barrier Island. Photographer’s caption: “Taken at Typhena (sic) Great Barrier Island during a stopover due to bad weather at Moko Hinau. The COLVILLE serviced the Hauraki Gulf lights after the fleet auxiliary HAURAKI finished.”
Murray Williscroft was a lighthouse keeper, who, along with his wife Ventris worked on a number of stations around New Zealand in the 1950s-60s.

Fate -Q408 “Karamana II / Colville”; Gulf Ferry on Gt Barrier service – last reported Fiji 1985.

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