S.S. Waitomo

Built in 1944 by The West Coast Shipbuilders Ltd. Vancouver as Sunnyside Park this "Victory Ship" was operated by Park Steam Ship Company of Montreal for the Canadian government from 1944 until 1946. She was then transferred to the Canadian Australasian Line as Waitomo. She retained that name when from 1947 to 1950 she was operated by the Canadian Union Line of Vancouver. A passenger from that era recounted his experience on the ship, "I sailed Waitomo in November 1948 Vancouver to Wellington...30 days one stop Apia to offload Campbell soup and load green bananas. I had 17th birthday four days at sea. I was one of six passengers. We did 10 knots. We ate with officers and took afternoon tea with them. As a kid I soon learned where the ice cream freezer was below decks." From 1950 until 1961 she was operated by the Canadian Union Line Ltd of Wellington, New Zealand. In 1963 she was sold to Taiwanese owners, renamed Blue Shark and, in 1967, scrapped.

Cover mailed June 29, 1953 with paquebot cancellation from Sydney, Australia to College
Place, Washington franked with Canadian 2 cent George VI definitive of November 15, 1949.



Reverse side of cover with "M 156" handstamp.

Cover mailed December 29, 1957 with Packet Boat cancellation from Auckland, New Zealand to Chicago,
Illinois franked with Canadian 1 cent and 2x2 cent Queen Elizabeth II definitives of 1954.



Reverse side of cover with "SA 1010" handstamp.

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