Built as a wooden two-decks barkentine with an auxiliary engine by Forrest & Son, Wyvenhoe, Co. Essex for the Melanesian Missionary Society.
Launched under the name SOUTHERN CROSS (IV).
Tonnage 290.7 grt., 204.98 net, dim. 131 x 26.6 x 14.2ft.
One 2-cyl compound steam engine, 19 nhp (120ipk), one propeller. Maximum speed 12 knots under sail and with engine.
Accommodation for 14 crew, and 8 European passengers and 56 natives.
1891 completed and registered at London with homeport Auckland.
Sailed from England under command of Capt. Bongard, who had also his wife on board. She gave birth to a daughter at the high seas during the passage. Under the few passengers was a doctor.
After arrival at Auckland on 12 March 1892 after a passage of 108 days, used by the mission for the transport of mission goods and passengers from Auckland to the mission posts at Norfolk Island, Solomon Islands and New Hebrides.
The two well know captains Bongard and Hugget commanded the vessel in these years for the mission.
Early 1900 was she replaced by a steel built vessel, schooner rigged, with more steam power, and the SOUTHERN CROSS (IV) was over complete.
22 February 1904 sold to Capt. Alfred Mann and an other shareholder. Registered in Auckland.
After he bought her, the steam engine was removed and her hold enlarged.
The aft deckhouse was used by the crew as mess-room.
The crew was reduced and the not more needed lifesaving equipment removed. Her net tonnage increased to 256.5.
She sailed from Auckland in ballast to Hokianga under command of the owner, with a crew of 7 men, his wife was also on board.
What normally would have been a short ballast voyage along the New Zealand coast was by adverse wind and strong gales a voyage of 28 days.
After arrival at Hokianga the ship was arrested for outstanding debts, and Capt. Mann traveled back overland to Auckland to solve this problems.
After 14 days waiting at least loading commenced, she got a full cargo of timbers for Sydney, Australia.
She did have a good voyage and after discharging her timber cargo she was towed to Newcastle, NSW to load a cargo of coal for Auckland.
After 12 hours loading she departed, and after discharging in Auckland she sailed to the small port Kopu near Thames, Coromandel for a cargo of timber.
During the time that Capt. Mann the owner was mostly used in the cross Tasman trade with timber and coal.
1909 Sold to a Sydney owner.
1916 Registered at Hobart Town, Tasmania.
1918 Registered in Melbourne.
1920 Owner given as George Dunkley, and still under the name SOUTHERN CROSS.
11 September 1920 under command of Capt Frank Hodgman with a crew of 8 men, and loaded with a cargo consisting mainly of benzene,1000 cases of benzene were stacked on deck amidships.
She was bound for Hobart, but did not arrive at this port.
Wreckage washed up at King Island in Bass Strait was identified as being part of the structure of the SOUTHERN CROSS.
After a search was organized only wreckage was found, the master of the HALL CAIN reported that his ship for two hours had sailed through the wreckage of benzene cases and drums.
The Court of Inquire gave the following statement:
In the opinion of the Court the SOUTHERN CROSS when well to the southward of King Island, was discovered to be on fire below, and when endeavoring to run the ship back for safety, she struck the Reid Rocks, or somewhere in that vicinity on the night of 14th September 1920, and in the consequence of the unfavorable weather conditions existing at the time, the nature of the locality and a probably explosion below, she broke up so rapidly that there was no possibility of any of the crew surviving.
Kiribati 1996 50c sg 524, scott 688.
Tuvalu 1987 15c sg 442, scott 410.
Source: The Benzine Era by N.H.Brewer. Notes I did made in the library at Hamilton long time ago, lost the sources.