PERSONAL RECORD. HAWKINS, C W. LOSS OF THE HUIA

Originally captured on 8mm colour film, from the home movie collection of Clifford William Hawkins, MNZM, maritime historian. Died March 24, 2007 aged 93.

What this film records appears to be the final voyage and grounding of the Schooner “Huia” on the Komekame Reef near Noumea.

Docked at a wharf, the boat’s hold is loaded with cargo including boxes of Anchor milk powder. A sign indicates the A.S. Huia sails for Suva, Noumea and Vila at 8am on Saturday. People watch from shore as the vessel casts off. Uniformed sailors talk on deck. Motorised boat ‘Waitemata’ sails alongside. Crew haul ropes and raise sails. Footage of the ocean voyage shows the crew at work, sea conditions, details of the boat rigging and Pacific Island stops.

After some calm sailing intertitles and footage indicate Reefs! followed by the text “VPQE”. “SCHOONER HUIA”. “CALLING ALL STATIONS”. “NEED IMMEADIATE ASSISTANCE”. “KOMEKAME REEF”. The crew row away from the Huia which remains stuck on the reef. They are picked up by a motor vessel “NC.P4” and later assisted by the larger “Tiare”. The crew rest with a modest pile of belongings on the deck of the Tiare and the sun sets.

Researchers note:
Cliff Hawkins' first book "LOG OF THE HUIA”, published in 1947, records the history of the last topsail schooner trading in New Zealand coastal waters and the largest Cargo-Carrying Topsail Schooner in Australasia. The Huia was launched at Aratapu, in Northland, on 20 June 1894. She sailed as a cargo carrier until 1951, around the shores of New Zealand, across the Tasman, and into the Pacific. She ended her days wrecked on the Komekame Reef.