Launches of Lyttelton Harbour #1: SS John Anderson

One of the best-loved and longest-serving steam launches to ply the waters of Lyttelton Harbour and Banks Peninsula was the SS John Anderson. Built at J. Anderson and Sons’ yards in Lyttelton (with the engine being built at the firm’s Christchurch workshop), she was the first steel launch to be constructed in Canterbury. She was 35 tons, 90ft long with a beam of 14ft and a depth of 7ft. She could carry 80 tons of cargo on a draft of 5ft and could accommodate 250 passengers. At 80 horsepower she could travel at around 12 knots on a moderate consumption of coal. According to the Press, “it was first intended to build her as a launch but it was afterwards decided to fit her up as a steamer. She is decked all over and will be fitted with masts and rigged as a steamer.”[1]

John Anderson was launched with much fanfare in November 1892, just in time for the summer day-trippers. On Boxing Day she took somewhere between 500 and 600 ‘excursionists’ to Diamond Harbour (this is long before Diamond Harbour was developed as a settlement; there would have been very scant facilities for so many people).  She regularly visited Purau, Governors Bay, Port Levy, Pigeon Bay, Little Akaloa and Okains Bay. 

John Anderson approaching the Purau jetty. Charles Beken collection, Canterbury Museum

John Anderson at an unidentified peninsula bay. http://ketechristchurch.peoplesnetworknz.info/banks_peninsula/images/show/1310-ss-john-anderson-lit338dc#.WyvXhC1L1hE

Anderson's foundry (circled) where John Anderson was built.
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Press, 12 December 1891

Gladys Robertson (nee Bamford) who grew up in Governors Bay, had an alarming story to tell about the John Anderson and launch rivalry.[2]

One Sunday, my sisters Margaret & Jessie & I had visited my grandparents in Lyttelton. We were coming home at 4PM. Margaret wanted to come home on Purau but I loved John Anderson and insisted on going on her. I think the Captains must have had an argument on who’s boat could go the fastest. Well we got out the moles, with Purau hot on our stern. John took a straight line for the short wharf and we expected Purau to go to the long wharf, but she got up a great speed and took off for Quail Island. We sat on the seat and watched and when she swung round and faced us her bow was right out of the water with speed, she came straight at us, but poor kids we thought she would turn off, but a deck hand rushed along & pitched us along to the cabin & told us to go in the cabin quickly and stay there. With that there was a splintering crash & poor old John lay on her side with Purau half over us. She slid back into the sea & backed off & set off happily for her destination. Our engines were not damaged & we crawled in to the short wharf w[h]ere we were hurried off. As far as I know John went back to Lyttelton under her own steam but still on her side. I think Purau only had to pay to fix her up.

The John Anderson operated a passenger and cargo service on the peninsula for nearly 50 years. In 1939 she was requisitioned by the Government to be used during the war as an examination boat for vessels entering the Lyttelton Heads. 

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[1] Press, 21 November 1891

[2] I don’t have an exact date for this event, which Gladys recollected as an elderly woman. Probably the second or third decade of the twentieth century. Access to the hand-written account is courtesy of Alison Hussey.