View source for RMS Niagara

{{Short description|New Zealand passenger vessel (1912–1940)}}
{{Other ships|Niagara (ship)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = NIAGARA of London leaving Sydney for Vancouver.jpg
| Ship caption = RMS ''Niagara'' in [[Port Jackson|Sydney]] in 1924
}} 
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|civil}}
| Ship name = ''Niagara''
| Ship namesake = either [[Niagara River]] or [[Niagara Falls]]
| Ship nickname = "The Queen of the Pacific"
| Ship owner = *1913: [[Union Company]]
*1931: Canadian-Australasian Line
| Ship operator = *1913: [[File:Union steamship co flag.svg|border|20px]] Union Company
*1931: [[File:House flag of the Canadian Australasian Line.svg|border|20px]] Canadian-Australasian Line
| Ship registry = [[Port of London|London]]
| Ship route = [[Port Jackson|Sydney]] – [[Ports of Auckland|Auckland]] – [[Suva]] – [[Honolulu Harbor|Honolulu]] – [[Vancouver]]
| Ship ordered = 
| Ship builder = [[John Brown & Company]], [[Clydebank]]
| Ship original cost = 
| Ship yard number = 415
| Ship laid down = 
| Ship launched = 17 August 1912
| Ship sponsor = 
| Ship completed = March 1913
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship in service = 
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship identification = *UK [[official number]] 135193
*[[Code letters]] JBSG (until 1933)
*{{ICS|Juliet}}{{ICS|Bravo}}{{ICS|Sierra}}{{ICS|Golf}}
*[[Maritime call sign|Call sign]] GBE (until 1933)
*Call sign GNXP (from 1934)
*{{ICS|Golf}}{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|X-ray}}{{ICS|Papa}}
| Ship fate = Sunk by a mine, 19 June 1940
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship type = [[Ocean liner]]
| Ship tonnage = {{GRT|13415}}, {{NRT|7582}}
| Ship displacement = 
| Ship length = {{cvt|524.7|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{cvt|66.3|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship draught = {{cvt|28|ft|1|in|abbr=on|2}}
| Ship depth = {{cvt|34.5|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship decks = 3
| Ship power = 
| Ship propulsion = *2 × [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple-expansion steam engines]]
*1 × low-pressure [[Steam turbine#Marine propulsion|steam turbine]]
*3 × [[Propeller|screws]]
| Ship speed = {{convert|18|kn|km/h}}
| Ship capacity = *281 first class
*210 second class
*176 third class
*1928: {{convert|81560|cuft|0}} [[Reefer ship|refrigerated cargo]]
| Ship crew = 
| Ship armament = 
| Ship sensors = 
| Ship notes = [[sister ship]]: {{HMS|Avenger|1915|6}}
}}
|}

'''RMS ''Niagara''''' was a [[Transpacific crossing|transpacific]] [[Steamship|steam]] [[ocean liner]], [[Royal Mail Ship]] and [[Reefer ship|refrigerated cargo ship]]. She was launched in 1912 in [[Scotland]] and sunk in 1940 by a [[Naval mine|mine]] off the coast of New Zealand.

Her regular route was between [[Port Jackson|Sydney]] and [[Vancouver]] via [[Ports of Auckland|Auckland]], [[Suva]] and [[Honolulu Harbor|Honolulu]]. In her 27-year career she made 162 round trips between Australia, New Zealand and Canada and sailed nearly {{convert|2500000|nmi|km}}.

''Niagara'' was owned firstly by the [[Union Company]], and later by the Canadian-Australasian Line, which was jointly owned by the Union Company and [[CP Ships|Canadian Pacific]]. Like many Union Company ships, she was registered in [[Port of London|London]] in the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]].

''Niagara'' was built to burn either coal or oil. She was the first oil-burning steamship to be certified by the [[Board of Trade]] to carry passengers. When new, ''Niagara'' was the largest merchant ship yet owned by a New Zealand company. In 1914 and 1915 she set a number of speed records for crossing the [[Tasman Sea]].

In 1918 ''Niagara'' was instrumental in the spread of [[Spanish flu]] to New Zealand. When she was sunk in 1940, ''Niagara'' was carrying about 8{{frac|1|2}} tons of [[gold bar]]s. Divers recovered 555 bars in 1941, and another 30 in 1953, but five gold bars remain unaccounted for.

''Niagara'' was [[Bunkering|bunkered]] with oil when she sank. [[Heavy fuel oil]] has leaked from her [[Fuel bunker|bunker tanks]] ever since, and has caused some environmental damage in and around [[Hauraki Gulf]]. Some oil remains in her wreck, and the scale of environmental threat it may pose continues to be debated.

==Building==
[[John Brown & Company]] built ''Niagara'' in [[Clydebank]], [[Glasgow]]. [[Laura Borden]], wife of [[Prime Minister of Canada|Canadian Prime Minister]] [[Robert Borden]], launched her on 17 August 1912.<ref name=NZH-1912-0820>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19120820.2.72 |title=New steamer of Union Company |newspaper=[[New Zealand Herald]] |page=7 |via=Papers Past |date=20 August 1912 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref><ref name=SBS>{{cite web |url= http://clydeships.co.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=3290&vessel=NIAGARA |title=Niagara |work=Scottish Built Ships |publisher=Caledonian Maritime Research Project |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> ''Niagara'' was completed in March 1913. She was {{cvt|524.7|ft|abbr=on}} long, her beam was {{cvt|66.3|ft|abbr=on}} and her [[tonnage]]s were {{GRT|13415}} and {{NRT|7582}}.<ref name=LR30>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30b0849.pdf |year=1930 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships |volume=II |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |via=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

Some of ''Niagara''{{'}}s holds were [[Reefer ship|refrigerated]] for perishable cargo.<ref name=LR30-I>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30a0611.pdf |year=1930 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=List of Vessels Fitted with Refrigerating Appliances |volume=I |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> When she was new, her number one (forward) hold was not refrigerated.<ref name=NZH-1928-1023>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19281023.2.35 |title=Carriage of produce |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=8 |via=Papers Past |date=23 October 1928 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

When new, ''Niagara'' was the largest ship in the Union Company's fleet<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/199446134 |title=R.M.S. Niagara |newspaper=[[The Age]] |page=6 |via=[[Trove]] |date=15 April 1913 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> and the largest ship owned by a New Zealand company.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/launch-niagara |title=Launch of the ''Niagara'' |work=New Zealand History |publisher=[[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]] |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

Before she was launched, ''Niagara'' was nicknamed "The ''Titanic'' of the Pacific".<ref name=Cashman>{{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/13/a2531413.shtml |last=Cashman |first=Tim |title=RMS Niagara |work=[[BBC WW2 People's War|WW2 People's War]] |publisher=[[BBC Online]] |date=18 April 2004 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> After the ''[[Titanic]]'' sank in April 1912 this was changed to "The Queen of the Pacific".{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

===Propulsion===
''Niagara'' had three [[Propeller|screws]].<ref name=PMR9-12>{{cite journal |last=Pacific American Steamship Association; Shipowners Association of the Pacific Coast |date=September 1912 |title=New Triple Screw Steamer For Australian Mail Line |journal=[[Pacific Marine Review]]|volume=9 |page=15 |location=San Francisco |publisher=JS Hines |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EAtQAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA8-PA15 |access-date=3 April 2015 |archive-date=2 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502131451/https://books.google.com/books?id=EAtQAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA8-PA15 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Her [[port and starboard]] screws were each driven by a four-cylinder [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple-expansion steam engine]]. Exhaust steam from the low-pressure cylinder of each of these engines powered a [[CA Parsons & Company|Parsons]] low-pressure [[Steam turbine#Marine propulsion|steam turbine]] that drove her middle screw.

The combination of three screws, two piston engines and one low-pressure turbine had been pioneered in the [[New Zealand Shipping Company]]'s refrigerated [[cargo liner]] {{SS|Otaki|1908|2}}, launched in 1908. The same company then ordered a passenger liner with a similar combination, {{SS|Rotorua|1910|2}}, which was launched in 1910. The giant {{sclass|Olympic|ocean liner|2}}s and several other passenger liners had also been built with similar "combination machinery". It offered better fuel economy and speed than propulsion purely by piston engines, and more flexibility than pure turbine propulsion.

[[File:First Class Smoking Room on the 'Niagara' (1913) RMG G11000.tiff|thumb|''Niagara''{{'}}s first class smoking room in 1913]]
''Niagara'' had two double-ended and six single-ended boilers, heated by a total of 40 corrugated furnaces. The boilers supplied steam at 220 [[Pounds per square inch|lb<sub>f</sub>/in<sup>2</sup>]] to the high-pressure cylinders of her triple-expansion engines.<ref name=LR30/> She was equipped to burn either coal or oil.<ref name=NZH-1912-0820/><ref name=Telegraph-1913-0424>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/238948885 |title=The new mail steamer Niagara |newspaper=[[Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]] |page=9 |via=Trove |date=24 April 1913 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> On her maiden voyage she burnt coal.<ref name=SMH-1913-0429>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15416315 |title=R.M.S. Niagara |newspaper=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |page=4 |via=Trove |date=29 April 1913 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

''Niagara'' was the first oil-burning steamship to be certificated by the [[Board of Trade]] to carry passengers.<ref name=NZH-1930-0726>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19300726.2.97 |title=Hundredth voyage |newspaper=New Zealand Herald |page=14 |via=Papers Past |date=26 July 1930 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> Oil was both a more efficient fuel and could be bunkered more quickly. In 1913 it could take a week to bunker a large liner with enough coal to get from Sydney to Vancouver, and she would need to be bunkered again in Vancouver to make the return voyage. ''Niagara''{{'}}s fuel tanks had capacity for 5,000 [[Long ton|tons]] of oil,<ref name=Star-1913-0425>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19130425.2.25 |title=An unsinkable ship |newspaper=[[Auckland Star]] |page=5 |via=Papers Past |date= April 1913 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> and she could bunker enough oil in 30 hours to make a {{convert|15000|nmi|km}} round trip from Sydney to Vancouver and back.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19131009.2.31 |title=The Niagara's oil fuel |newspaper=[[The Star (Christchurch)|The Star]] |via=Papers Past |page=4 |date=9 October 1913 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> This was a valuable saving in both time and harbour dues.

===Accommodation===
[[File:First Class Music Room on the 'Niagara' (1913) RMG G10998.tiff|thumb|''Niagara''{{'}}s first class music room in 1913]]
''Niagara'' was built with berths for 281 first class, 210 second class and 176 third class passengers. Her first class accommodation was amidships, spread over her [[Main deck|main]], [[Deck (ship)#Common names for decks|upper, shelter]] and [[promenade deck]]s and included two cabins de luxe, each with its own bathroom. Her second class accommodation was [[aft]], and third class accommodation was in the forward part of the ship.<ref name=Telegraph-1913-0424/>

Much of ''Niagara''{{'}}s interior décor was in [[Historicism (art)|historicist]] styles. One of her first class cabins de luxe was in [[Style Louis XIV|Louis XIV style]]. Her other cabin de luxe and her first class music room were in [[Adam style]]. Her first class dining saloon, lounge and library, and second-class music and smoking rooms were all in [[Louis XVI style]]. Her second class dining saloon was in [[Georgian architecture|Georgian style]]. The ceilings of the first class dining saloon and smoking room each had a domed skylight. ''[[Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]'' in [[Sydney]] called ''Niagara'' "a magnificent liner".<ref name=Telegraph-1913-0424/>

''Niagara'' had her own hospital. Mindful of the great loss of life on the ''[[Titanic]]'' in April 1912, the Union Company stressed that ''Niagara'' had enough lifeboats for all her passengers and crew. She also carried a steam launch.<ref name=Argus-1913-0423>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10779399 |title=New Union liner |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]] |page=11 |via=Trove |date=23 April 1913 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

==Sister ship==
[[File:StateLibQld 1 133589 Avenger (ship).jpg|thumb|''Niagara''{{'}}s [[sister ship]] {{HMS|Avenger|1915|6}}]]
At the end of 1913 the Union Company ordered a running mate for ''Niagara'' from the [[Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company]] in [[Govan]], Glasgow. She was to be a [[sister ship]], but {{cvt|30|ft|0}} longer and a greater tonnage<ref>{{cite web |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19131231.2.92.3 |title=The sister ship to the Niagara |newspaper=[[The Press]] |page=11 |via=Papers Past |date=31 December 1913 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> (15300 grt).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Avenger |url=https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?ref=6467 |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=Clyde ships}}</ref> Unlike ''Niagara'', the new ship was propelled entirely by turbines, and had only two screws. She was launched on 30 June 1915 as ''Aotearoa'',<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19150721.2.19 |title=Union Company's new steamer |newspaper=The Evening Post |page=2 |via=Papers Past |date=21 July 1915 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref><ref name=Aotearoa>{{cite web |url= http://clydeships.co.uk/view.php?official_number=&imo=&builder=&builder_eng=&year_built=&launch_after=&launch_before=&role=&propulsion=&category=&owner=&port=&flag=&disposal=&lost=&ref=6467&vessel=AVENGER |title=Avenger |work=Scottish Built Ships |publisher=Caledonian Maritime Research Trust |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> the [[Māori language|Māori]] name for New Zealand.

The [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] requisitioned ''Aotearoa'' and renamed her {{HMS|Avenger|1915|6}}. She was completed on 14 December 1915 as an [[Armed merchantman#Armed merchant cruisers|armed merchant cruiser]].<ref name="Aotearoa" /> [[U-boat]] [[SM U-69#Summary of raiding history|U.69]] sank her with a torpedo on 14 June 1917 at 61°01'48"N 3°34'12"W, between the [[Faroe Islands|Faeroes]] and [[Shetland]]s.<ref name=":0" />

==Entry into service==
[[File:First Class cabin de luxe on the 'Niagara' (1913) RMG G11001.tiff|thumb|One of ''Niagara''{{'}}s two first class cabins de luxe in 1913]]
The Union Company was based in New Zealand but it registered its ships in London.<ref name=LR30/> Many members of her crew were Australian, and they were employed under Australian [[Ship's articles|articles]].<ref name=DS/>

''Niagara'' was built for the Union Company's transpacific service between Australia and Vancouver via New Zealand,<ref name=PMR9-12/> [[Fiji]]<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19140311.2.90 |title=The Vancouver mail |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=10 |via=Papers Past |date=11 March 1914 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> and [[Hawaii]]. It was informally called the All-Red Line,<ref name=Star-1913-0509>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19130509.2.33 |title= The Vancouver service |newspaper=Auckland Star |page=4 |via=Papers Past |date=9 May 1913 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> like the [[All Red Line|telegraph cable network of the same name]].

However, her maiden voyage was to deliver her from Scotland to Australia. She sailed from Glasgow via [[Millbay|Plymouth]], [[Port of Durban|Durban]] and [[Port of Melbourne|Melbourne]]<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/238616988 |title=New Canadian-Australian liner |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |page=9 |via=Trove |date=25 February 1913 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> to Sydney.<ref name=SMH-1913-0429/><ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/179875951 |title=New mail steamer |newspaper=[[The Daily Standard (Brisbane)|Daily Standard]] |page=4 |via=Trove |date=28 February 1913 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> She reached Melbourne on 22 April 1913<ref name=Argus-1913-0423/> and Sydney on 24 April.<ref name=Telegraph-1913-0424/>

When ''Niagara'' reached Melbourne the ''[[Auckland Star]]'' called her "an unsinkable ship" and praised her as "one of the most palatial and up-to-date steamers seen in Australia".<ref name=Star-1913-0425/> When she reached Auckland a fortnight later, the ''Auckland Star'' said her arrival marked "a new epoch in the growth of New Zealand's trans-oceanic trade". Stressing her large cargo capacity, the newspaper said "She cannot fail to encourage trade between New Zealand and Canada", and that she would "inevitably aid the great work of consolidating the [[British Empire|Empire]]".<ref name=Star-1913-0509/>

''Niagara'' was scheduled to leave Sydney on 5 May on her first voyage to Vancouver.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/175908271 |title=Projected departures |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |page=12 |via=Trove |date=15 April 1913 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> She returned from Vancouver and reached Auckland on 1 July 1913, having covered the {{convert|6330|nmi|km}} at an average of {{convert|15+1/2|kn|km/h}}.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM19130702.2.88 |title=Oil fuel on Niagara |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Times]] |page=8 |via=Papers Past |date=2 July 1913 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

==Setting records==
[[File:Third Class cabin on the 'Niagara' (1913) RMG G11005.tiff|thumb|upright|One of ''Niagara''{{'}}s third class cabins in 1913]]
In January 1914 ''Niagara'' set a record for crossing the Tasman Sea. Despite a strong northeast wind on the first day she steamed from Sydney to Auckland in three days and two and a half hours, which broke the previous record by four hours. Her [[Master mariner|Master]], Captain Morrisby, stated that she had maintained a speed of about {{convert|17+1/2|kn|km/h}} and must at times have reached {{convert|18|kn|km/h}}.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19140115.2.41 |title=Trans-Tasman record created by R.M.S. Niagara |newspaper=Auckland Star |page=7 |via=Papers Past |date=17 January 1914 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> In July 1914 ''Niagara'' broke her own record with a crossing from Sydney to Auckland of three days and half an hour.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19140702.2.88 |title=Niagara's record trip |newspaper=[[The Evening Post (New Zealand)|The Evening Post]] |page=8 |via=Papers Past |date=2 July 1914 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

In May 1915 ''Niagara'' set a new westbound record across the Tasman Sea by steaming from Auckland to Sydney in three days and 23 minutes.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19150507.2.70 |title=Niagara's record run |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=5 |via=Papers Past |date=7 May 1915 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> This record stood until 1931.<ref name=DS/>

As well as breaking Australasian speed records, ''Niagara'' gained a reputation for reliability, and for [[Ship stability|stability]] in all weathers.{{sfn|Wilson|1956|p=175}}

==World War I==
On 28 July 1914 [[World War I]] began. On 15 August ''Niagara'' and another Union Company liner, {{SS|Marama||2}}, were held for some days at Honolulu because the German cruiser {{SMS|Leipzig|1905|6}} was reported to be near the coast of [[British Columbia]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19140817.2.11.20 |title=Niagara sheltering |newspaper=[[The Northern Advocate]] |page=5 |via=Papers Past |date=17 August 1914 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> During the war ''Niagara'' sailed [[Blackout (wartime)|blacked out]], and she varied her course and speed in response to reported sightings of German warships.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19140902.2.37 |title=Across from Honolulu |newspaper=[[Whanganui Chronicle]] |page=7 |via=Papers Past |date=2 September 1914 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

In March 1915, en route from Sydney to Auckland, ''Niagara'' lost one blade from her middle screw.<ref name=NZH-1915-0323>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19150323.2.74 |title=Mishap to Niagara |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=9 |via=Papers Past |date=23 March 1915 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> This unbalanced the screw, which damaged both her middle propeller shaft and its bearing.<ref name=NZH-1915-0326>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19150326.2.34 |title=Niagara out of dock |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=4 |via=Papers Past |date=26 March 1915 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> Her engineers shut down her turbine and she reached Auckland on 22 March at {{convert|15|kn|km/h}} using only her port and starboard screws driven by her triple-expansion engines.<ref name=NZH-1915-0323/>

[[File:First Class Smoking Lounge on the 'Niagara' (1913) RMG G10996.tiff|thumb|''Niagara''{{'}}s first class smoking lounge in 1913]]
''Niagara'' carried a spare propeller shaft and screw. She was [[dry dock]]ed in [[Calliope Dock]], where her damaged propeller shaft and screw were removed and replacements installed. Engineers worked around the clock and completed the repair in 40 hours, enabling ''Niagara'' to leave the dock on 26 March<ref name=NZH-1915-0326/> and return to service. At the time ''Niagara'' was the largest ship to have been dry docked in New Zealand. She fitted into Calliope Dock with just {{convert|12|inch|mm}} clearance fore and aft and {{convert|10|in|mm}} on either side.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19150327.2.104.46.1 |title=Illustrated odds and ends: Docking the largest vessel ever docked in New Zealand |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=5 (supplement) |via=Papers Past |date=27 March 1915 |access-date=19 December 2020}} – includes 1915 photograph of ''Niagara'' in [[Calliope Dock]]</ref>

In May 1915 wartime security aboard ''Niagara'' was tightened. Police, customs and military authorities in Sydney thoroughly searched the ship, and searched all baggage and questioning all crew and passengers before allowing them aboard. Security in Auckland was also tightened.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19150518.2.43 |title=Searching the Niagara |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=5 |via=Papers Past |date=18 May 1915 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

By December 1915 there was a shortage of merchant seafarers in Sydney, and ships including ''Niagara'' had difficulty finding enough to make a full [[Ship's company|complement]]. But there was a particular shortage of stokers and trimmers, which affected ''Niagara'' less because she normally burned oil instead of coal.

In March 1918 it was reported that at some time in the war the German [[Armed merchantman#Auxiliary cruisers|auxiliary cruiser]] {{SMS|Wolf|1916|6}} twice came close to intercepting ''Niagara''. The report did not say when either incident took place.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19180315.2.38 |title=The Wolf's exploits |newspaper=[[Otago Daily Times]] |page=4 |via=Papers Past |date=15 March 1918 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> Later it was claimed that ''Wolf''{{'}}s [[seaplane]] once sighted ''Niagara'', but the liner outran ''Wolf''.<ref name=Star-1930-0612>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19300612.2.96 |title=Nearing a century |newspaper=Auckland Star |page=9 |via=Papers Past |date=12 June 1930 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> ''Wolf'' also evaded capture, and returned to Germany in February 1918.

==Spanish flu==
[[File:Second Class Dining Saloon on the 'Niagara' (1913) RMG G11003.tiff|thumb|''Niagara''{{'}}s second class dining saloon in 1913]]
In October 1918, Spanish flu broke out aboard ''Niagara'' on a voyage from Vancouver to Auckland. She had left Vancouver on 21 September, and reached Honolulu ten days later.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=20}} The next day she left Honolulu, and thereafter her stewards began to fall ill. She reached Suva four days after leaving Honolulu,{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=20}} on about 5 October.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=21}} By then there were about 50 or 60 cases.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=22}} Her [[Naval surgeon|ship's doctor]], Dr Latchmore, fell ill, and two passengers, Drs Mackenzie and Barnett, took over.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=18}}

After ''Niagara'' left Suva, passengers and members of the crew also began to fall ill.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=21}} So many people were infected that women passengers were recruited as volunteer stewards.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19181023.2.42 |title=Influenza epidemic outbreak on the Niagara |newspaper=[[Otago Witness]] |page=14 |via=Papers Past |date=23 October 1918 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> ''Niagara''{{'}}s hospital had only about 10 beds. Dr Mackenzie later testified that the outbreak was "in practically every portion of the ship" and little was done to isolate the sick.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=22}} He also stated that her crew's quarters were "very crowded" and "Their condition was very miserable when we had so many sick men in the tropical heat".{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=21}}

On 11 October one patient aboard ''Niagara'' died{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=24}} of bronchial pneumonia.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=19}} By then more than 100 of her crew were infected, and 25 cases were described as needing transfer to hospital.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=18}} But Dr Mackenzie considered that the outbreak was "ordinary influenza". One case was complicated by pneumonia, but Mackenzie attributed it to the fact that that patient had suffered a [[Chemical weapons in World War I|poison gas attack in the war]].{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=21}}

[[File:George Warren Russell.jpg|thumb|upright|[[George Warren Russell|GW Russell]], NZ [[Minister of Health (New Zealand)|Minister of Health]] when [[Spanish flu]] broke out aboard ''Niagara'']]
On 12 October the [[Minister of Health (New Zealand)|Minister of Health]], [[George Warren Russell]], told the [[Governor-General of New Zealand]], the [[Arthur Foljambe, 2nd Earl of Liverpool|Earl of Liverpool]], that Spanish flu was not a [[notifiable disease]], and therefore he could not [[quarantine]] ''Niagara'' unless the Governor-General were to issue a proclamation to that effect.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=18}} Later that day ''Niagara'' docked in Auckland. The Port Health Officer, Dr CC Russell, went aboard and examined the patients.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=20}} Dr Russell agreed with Mackenzie that all the influenza cases were "simple influenza". Dr Russell examined the pneumonia patient and concluded that the complication was not caused by Spanish flu.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=20}}

On 12 October, Dr Hughes, Auckland's District Health Officer, sent GW Russell a telegram informing him that one influenza patient aboard ''Niagara'' had died of pneumonia. GW Russell replied telling him to give clearance for people to disambark from the ship.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=19}}

[[File:Auckland Hospital Italianate Style.jpg|thumb|37 Spanish flu patients were moved from ''Niagara'' to [[Auckland City Hospital]]]]
After ''Niagara'' docked, 28 patients were transferred from her to [[Auckland City Hospital]]{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=22}} and 10 were kept aboard ship to be treated.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19181017.2.20 |title=Influenza epidemic |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=4 |via=Papers Past |date=17 October 1918 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> 10 contracted [[pneumonia]], which often followed Spanish flu.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC19181017.2.31 |title=Patients from the Niagara |newspaper=[[The Colonist (New Zealand newspaper)|The Colonist]] |page=7 |via=Papers Past |date=17 October 1918 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> ''Niagara''{{'}}s second class smoking room and second class cabins were converted into temporary hospitals.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=20}}

Between 13 and 21 October nine more cases were transferred from ''Niagara'' to the hospital.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=22}} Two patients died after being transferred to the hospital. Another died aboard ''Niagara'' the day before she left Auckland. 160 of Auckland Hospital's 180 nurses became infected, and two died.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=24}}

When ''Niagara'' reached Sydney, 296 passengers and about 200 crew were detained for seven days at [[North Head Quarantine Station]].<ref name=Truth>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTR19181109.2.31 |title=The "flu" fiend: alarming conditions at Auckland |newspaper=[[New Zealand Truth]] |page=5 |via=Papers Past |date=9 November 1918 |access-date=19 December 2020}} – editorial</ref> About 280 of the passengers were released from quarantine on 1 November.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19181119.2.12 |title=Out of quarantine |newspaper=[[The Star (Dunedin)|The Evening Star]] |page=2 |via=Papers Past |date=19 November 1918 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

Among the passengers who disembarked from ''Niagara'' at Auckland were the then [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|New Zealand Prime Minister]], [[William Massey]], and his [[Minister of Finance (New Zealand)|Minister of Finance]], [[Joseph Ward]]. A newspaper alleged that the reason why GW Russell failed to quarantine the ship was in order to avoid inconveniencing the two statesmen.<ref name=Truth/>

In November 1918 Opposition MPs in the [[New Zealand House of Representatives]] criticised the Government's handling of the Spanish flu epidemic. [[Peter Fraser]] questioned GW Russell's response to the outbreak aboard ''Niagara'', and [[Harry Holland]] called for a [[Royal commission|Royal Commission]] of inquiry.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OPUNT19181129.2.17 |title=The Niagara Incident |newspaper=The Opunake Times |page=4 |via=Papers Past |date=29 November 1918 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

On 25 January 1919 ''Niagara'' was quarantined at Auckland on arrival from Sydney. She had one patient with bronchial influenza, who was transferred to the quarantine station on [[Motuihe Island]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19190125.2.41.6 |title=Niagara quarantined |newspaper=The Evening Post |page=5 |via=Papers Past |date=25 January 1919 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

===Influenza Epidemic Commission===
In 1919 the [[Governor-General of New Zealand]] appointed an Influenza Epidemic Commission. Its terms of reference included "All matters connected with the arrival in New Zealand waters of the SS 'Niagara' and SS 'Makura' in respect to their bearing on the introduction and extension of the epidemic". The ''Makura'' was another Union Company ship, and at the time was ''Niagara''{{'}}s running mate on the All-Red Line. ''Makura'', unlike ''Niagara'', was quarantined. Three of her patients died.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=17}}

Witnesses who testified to the Commission included Drs Hughes, Mackenzie and Russell, Dr Maguire, Medical Superintendent of Auckland Hospital, and Dr Milsom of the Auckland Branch of the [[New Zealand Medical Association|New Zealand Division]] of the [[British Medical Association]]. Dr Maguire stated that the hospital had admitted no cases of influenza "for some months" before ''Niagara'' arrived.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=22}} Dr Milson told the Commission that the BMA's opinion was that "''Niagara'' was the cause of the epidemic" in New Zealand.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=23}}

However, before ''Niagara'' arrived there had been an outbreak near Auckland in the military camp at [[Narrow Neck, New Zealand|Narrow Neck]]. The first cases were recorded on 30 September. One doctor from the camp stated that on 10 October there were 169 cases, 39 were severe and three were pneumonic.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=24}} Another stated there were 230 by 12 October.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=25}} There was then a lull until 19 October, when cases at Narrow Neck increased again.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=24}} About half of the cases at Narrow Neck that were diagnosed after 19 October were pneumonic, and from 20 October there were deaths.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=25}}

On 13 May 1919 the Commission published an interim report.{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=42}} It found, inter alia:

<blockquote>"That, although the latter is not one capable of absolute demonstration, the evidence before is raises a very strong presumption that a substantial factor in the introduction of the epidemic was the arrival in Auckland on the 12th October of the s.s. "Niagara" with patients infected with the epidemic disease."{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=27}}</blockquote>

[[File:Auckland, New Zealand Memorial detail, 1918 Influenza epidemic burial site (cropped).jpg|thumb|Inscription on the monument to victims of the Spanish flu epidemic in [[Waikumete Cemetery]], Auckland]]
The report exonerated Massey and Ward from interfering with the decision not to quarantine the ship,{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=18}} but it criticised Dr Russell for accepting Dr Mackenzie's diagnoses of "simple influenza", and GW Russell for not quarantining ''Niagara'' when the outbreak aboard her "made her a menace to the health of the city" (of Auckland).{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=22}}

The Commission was given evidence that the condition of crew accommodation on a number of ships was unhealthy. WT Young, General Secretary of the [[Seamen's Union of Australia]], raised this with the Union Company, and the Commission reported that "we were assured that considerable improvements were being effected in that company's vessels". However, the report suggested that the powers and duties of port health officers did not go far enough, and it called for "a regular procedure of constant supervision over the sanitary and hygienic conditions of the wharves and shipping".{{sfn|Denniston|Mitchelson|McLaren|1919|p=30}}

==''Aorangi''==
[[File:StateLibQld 1 133301 Aorangi II (ship).jpg|thumb|{{MV|Aorangi|1924|2}} joined ''Niagara'' on the All-Red Line in 1925]]
In 1920 the Union Company revived its plan for a new liner to share the All-Red Line with ''Niagara''. That June it announced that the new ship would be propelled by [[Gear train|reduction-geared]] turbines like HMS ''Avenger'', and capable of {{convert|18|kn|km/h}} like ''Niagara''. But the new ship would be considerably larger: {{GRT|18000}} and more than {{convert|600|ft}} long.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19200619.2.69 |title=The Vancouver service. Larger "Niagara" building |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=9 |via=Papers Past |date=19 June 1920 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> But in the 1920s [[Marine propulsion#Reciprocating|marine diesel engines]] advanced rapidly in size and power. This led the Union Company to change its plans and order a [[motor ship]].

{{MV|Aorangi|1924|2}} was launched in 1924 in Scotland and reached Sydney on 3 March 1925.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16186957 |title=The Aorangi |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |page=16 |via=Trove |date=4 March 1925 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> At {{GRT|17491}}<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?ref=6549 |title=Aorangi |work=Scottish Built Ships |publisher=Caledonian Maritime Research Trust |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> she supplanted ''Niagara'' as the largest ship in the Union Company fleet. Between them ''Niagara'' and ''Aorangi'' were scheduled to provide a regular service with timetabled departures from Sydney and Vancouver every four weeks.<ref name=DS>{{cite web |url= https://www.derbysulzers.com/shipaorangi.html |title=Aorangi, Union Steamship, Company 1924 – 1953 |work=Derby Sulzers |date=3 February 2018 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

==Incidents and rescues==
in February 1923 a [[cyclone]] struck ''Niagara'' in passage from Suva to Auckland. An Australian [[able seaman]] who had been working on her [[Deck (ship)#Common names for decks|boat deck]], William Kew, was swept overboard, and at least one passenger was injured. ''Niagara'' turned back and searched two hours for A/b Kew, but did not find him.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/259100406 |title=Tidal wave strikes ship |newspaper=[[Geraldton Guardian|The Geraldton Express]] |page=3 |via=Trove |date=23 February 1923 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> The cyclone forced ''Niagara'' to [[Heaving to|heave to]] for a few hours, and she made only very slow progress for another 24.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19230216.2.62 |title=Niagara in cyclone |newspaper=The Northern Advocate |page=8 |via=Papers Past |date=16 February 1923 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

[[File:RMS NIAGARA leaving Sydney for Vancouver (8155633560).jpg|thumb|''Niagara'' leaving [[Port Jackson|Sydney]] in 1924]]

===''Doris Crane''===
On the morning of 19 December 1927 the three-masted [[schooner]] ''Doris Crane'' was sailing from [[Tabuaeran|Fanning Island]] to [[Port of San Francisco|San Francisco]] with a cargo of [[copra]] when fuel for her auxiliary diesel engine caught fire. Her crew fought the fire, but it spread and her engineer died of burns. At 1530 hrs on 20 December the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats about {{convert|340|nmi|km}} north of Hawaii.<ref name=NZH-1928-0103>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19280103.2.33 |title=Schooner burned |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=8 |via=Papers Past |date=3 January 1928 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

''Doris Crane'' had no wireless, but at 0400 hrs on 20 December ''Niagara''{{'}}s lookouts saw the glare of the fire from {{convert|20|nmi|km}} away and she changed course to assist. By the time ''Niagara'' arrived, the lifeboats had drifted away from the burning schooner. After three hours' search ''Niagara'' found the two boats. She landed five of the survivors at Honolulu on 22 December and the remaining nine at Suva.<ref name=NZH-1928-0103/>

===''Ika''===
On 26 February 1928 the {{cvt|38|ft|adj=on}} fishing launch ''Ika'' suffered engine failure between [[Tiritiri Matangi Island|Tiri Tiri Island]] and [[The Noises]] in the Hauraki Gulf. Her crew tried to reach [[Kawau Island]] by sail power, but her sail was blown away. A heavy sea strained her hull and her crew were bailing constantly. She drifted for two days and nights, by which time she was half-full of water.<ref name=NZH-1928-0301>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19280301.2.99 |title=Rescued from launch |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=12 |via=Papers Past |date=1 March 1928 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

At about 1955 hrs on 28 February the crew sighted ''Niagara'', which had just left Auckland for Sydney. The fishermen lit benzene [[flare]]s,<ref name=NZH-1928-0301/> which were seen by ''Niagara''{{'}}s [[Second mate|Second Officer]].<ref name=Star-1930-0612/> ''Niagara'' changed course and rescued the three fishermen with one of her lifeboats about {{convert|10|nmi|km}} off [[Hen and Chicken Islands]].<ref name=NZH-1928-0301/> ''Ika'' had drifted about {{convert|50|nmi|km}}, and a southwesterly wind was driving her farther off-shore when ''Niagara'' reached her.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19280229.2.34 |title=Launch party rescued |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=10 |via=Papers Past |date=29 February 1928 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

===Vancouver wharf===
On 30 January 1931 ''Niagara'' collided with a concrete wharf in fog as she came into berth at Vancouver.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224661525 |title=Niagara crashes into pier while docking |newspaper=The Sun |page=1 |via=Trove |date=31 January 1931 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> Eight steel plates of her bow were damaged. Repairs were estimated to cost £1,500, and were completed in time for her to begin her return voyage on schedule.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19310224.2.83 |title=Mishap to Niagara |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=10 |via=Papers Past |date=24 February 1931 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> After she reached Sydney, ''Niagara'' was dry docked at [[Cockatoo Island Dockyard|Cockatoo Island]] on 2 March for further repairs.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16758568 |title=The Niagara's propellers |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |page=12 |via=Trove |date= 1931 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

===''King Egbert''===
On the evening of 17 July 1935 the {{GRT|4535}} cargo motor ship ''King Egbert'' collided with ''Niagara'' in fog in the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]] about {{convert|40|nmi|km}} off [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]]. ''Niagara'' had just left Vancouver, and her passengers included the [[Prime Minister of Australia]], [[Joseph Lyons]].<ref name=NZH-1935-0719>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19350719.2.67 |title=Collision in fog |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=11 |via=Papers Past |date=19 July 1935 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

Both ships returned to port for survey.<ref name=NZH-1935-0719/> ''King Egbert''{{'}}s bow was stove in, and ''Niagara''{{'}}s hull was damaged above the waterline on her port side forward, abreast of her number one hold.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19350810.2.26.8 |title=The Union Steam Ship Company's transpacific liner Niagara damaged as a result of a collision with the motor-ship King Egbert |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=10 |via=Papers Past |date=10 August 1935 |access-date=19 December 2020}} – includes photographs of damage to both ships</ref><ref name=NZH-1935-0820>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19350820.2.27.9?end_date=01-09-1935&items_per_page=100&query=Niagara+King+Egbert&snippet=true&start_date=01-07-1935 |title=Niagara under repair at Victoria, British Columbia, after being damaged in collision |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=6 |via=Papers Past |date=20 August 1935 |access-date=19 December 2020}} – includes photograph of repair to ''Niagara''{{'}}s hull in dry dock</ref> The Wreck Commissioner took evidence from the Masters of both ships and found that neither was to blame.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19350726.2.72 |title=Mishap to Niagara |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=9 |via=Papers Past |date=26 July 1935 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> ''Niagara'' was dry docked at [[Esquimalt]] for repairs.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19350723.2.107 |title=Repairs to Niagara |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=10 |via=Papers Past |date=23 July 1935 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> She returned to service on 1 August<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19350802.2.132 |title=Niagara sails |newspaper=The Evening Post |page=11 |via=Papers Past |date=2 August 1935 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> and reached Auckland on 19 August.<ref name=NZH-1935-0820/>

===Firework explosion===
On 27 October 1937 ''Niagara'' was at a wharf in [[Darling Harbour]] having 300 cases of [[fireworks]] loaded into her number two hold when one of the cases exploded. Dock workers were blown through the air, five were injured, one later died of his injuries and three others were treated in hospital. Windows were broken more than 200 [[yard]]s away.<ref name=SMH-1937-1028>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17407648 |title=Explosion on wharf |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |page=11 |via=Trove |date=28 October 1936 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

The fireworks had been made in China, arrived on the steamship ''Nankin'' and were being transhipped at Sydney for export to Fiji.<ref name=SMH-1937-1028/> They were of a type that can be detonated by shock, and which were banned in [[New South Wales]]. The remaining cases of fireworks were removed to [[Bantry Bay Explosives Depot]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17402685 |title=High explosive in crackers |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |page=11 |via=Trove |date=29 October 1936 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

==Wireless developments==
When ''Niagara'' entered service she was equipped for [[wireless telegraphy]] on the 300 and 600 metre wavelengths. Her original [[Maritime call sign|call sign]] was GBE.{{sfn|The Marconi Press Agency Ltd|1914|page=401}}

In 1925 the [[AWA Technology Services|Amalgamated Wireless Company]] built a new, powerful [[Shortwave radio|shortwave]] beam wireless transmitter for her<ref name=SMH-1925-0501>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16227622 |title=Wireless record |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |page=9 |via=Trove |date=1 May 1925 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> that was installed when she was overhauled in Sydney from February to April 1925.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16192063 |title=Pacific services |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |page=9 |via=Trove |date=2 April 1925 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> That April and May, ''Niagara'' set new wireless records by transmitting and receiving signals to and from both Australia and Canada throughout her voyage to Vancouver and back. While moored in Vancouver she sent a signal to [[Pennant Hills]],<ref name=SMH-1925-0501/> and on her return voyage from Vancouver she succeeded in transmitting wireless signals from the Pacific Ocean to England.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/155767973 |title=Marine wireless |newspaper=The Age |page=10 |via=Trove |date=15 May 1925 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> This was a new record for the [[Marconi Company]], achieved with a transmitter power of less than one [[Watt#Kilowatt|Kilowatt]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220675091 |title=Marconi record |newspaper=[[Daily Mail (Brisbane)|Daily Mail]] |page=7 |via=Trove |date=30 May 1925 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

In January 1928, as ''Niagara'' crossed the Tasman Sea, she exchanged signals with a wireless station in [[Burnham-on-Sea]] in England. In 1925 ''Niagara'' had succeeded in transmitting to England from somewhere in the Pacific, but this latest achievement was claimed as a new record. A service was established by which passengers could send messages to England at a cost of 11 [[Penny (Australian coin)|pence]] per word.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19280119.2.74 |title=New wireless record |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=10 |via=Papers Past |date=19 January 1928 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

[[File:StateLibQld 1 139254 Landing the aircraft, Southern Cross in Brisbane, Queensland, ca. 1928.jpg|thumb|''[[Southern Cross (aircraft)|Southern Cross]]'' landing at [[Brisbane]]]]
Between 28 May and 9 June 1928 the [[Fokker F.VII]] aircraft ''[[Southern Cross (aircraft)|Southern Cross]]'' made the World's first flight across the Pacific: from [[California]] via Fiji and Hawaii to [[Queensland]]. Its crew maintained hourly wireless contact with ''Niagara'' on each leg of the flight.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19280619.2.36 |title=Wireless at sea |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=8 |via=Papers Past |date=19 June 1928 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

In 1934 the new wireless call sign GNXP<ref>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/34/34b0605.pdf |year=1934 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships |volume=II |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |via=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> superseded ''Niagara''{{'}}s [[code letters]] JBSG<ref name=LR30/> and her original wireless call sign.

In February 1936 the [[Maritime New Zealand|New Zealand Marine Department]] established a wireless [[direction finding]] beacon on Tiri Tiri Island, and asked ships to help to test it. ''Niagara''{{'}}s master recommended that a second beacon was needed for ships to fix their position by [[triangulation]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19360330.2.91 |title=Radio beam |newspaper=Auckland Star |page=8 |via=Papers Past |date=30 March 1936 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> However, the beacon on Tiri Tiri enabled ships to get accurate bearings from a range of up to {{convert|88|nmi|km}}.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19360713.2.130 |title=Navigation aid |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=11 |via=Papers Past |date=13 July 1936 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

==Modifications==
By October 1928 refrigerating equipment had been installed in ''Niagara''{{'}}s number one hold. This increased her refrigerated capacity by 450 tons,<ref name=NZH-1928-1023/> bringing the total to {{convert|81560|cuft|0}}.<ref name=LR30-I/>

In August 1929 ''Niagara'' received a month-long overhaul in Sydney. The domed skylight in her first class dining saloon was removed in order to increase the deck area of the first class lounge, which was immediately above the saloon. Her passenger accommodation was re-painted, re-decorated, re-carpeted, much of her furniture was replaced and the remainder was re-upholstered.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19290826.2.133 |title=Niagara overhauled |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=9 |via=Papers Past |date=26 August 1929 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

In 1933 first ''Aorangi'' and then ''Niagara'' were given their biennial overhauls in Sydney. The Union Company's {{HMNZS|Monowai|F59|2}} was to deputise for each ship in turn.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19330314.2.112 |title=Vancouver service; overhaul of liners |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=11 |via=Papers Past |date=14 March 1933 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> ''Niagara'' was withdrawn from service when she reached Sydney on 14 August.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16997939 |title=Niagara's overhaul |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |page=11 |via=Trove |date=14 August 1933 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> Large sections of her deck were re-laid, and equipment to screen [[sound film]]s aboard was installed in one of her lounges. ''Niagara'' returned to service at Sydney on 12 October as scheduled.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19331013.2.71 |title=Niagara's overhaul; resumption of service |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=9 |via=Papers Past |date=13 October 1933 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237918446 |title=RMS Niagara refitted |newspaper=The [[Labor Daily]] |page=11 |via=Trove |date=13 October 1933 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> The combined cost of overhauling the two ships was £60,000.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/180588091 |title=Overseas shipping |newspaper=[[Telegraph (Brisbane)|The Telegraph]] |page=15 |via=Trove |date=10 October 1933 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

==Canadian–Australasian Line==
In 1930 ''Niagara'' made her hundredth round trip between Australia, New Zealand and Canada.<ref name=NZH-1930-0726/><ref name=Star-1930-0612/>

[[File:House flag, Canadian Australasian Line RMG RP 8 33.jpg|thumb|Canadian-Australasian Line [[Maritime flag#House flag|house flag]]]]
In 1931 the Union Company anticipated competition from [[Matson, Inc.|Matson Line]] of the USA, which had ordered two new liners, {{SS|Mariposa|1931|2}} and {{SS|Monterey||2}}, to run between the [[West Coast of the United States]] and Australia via Hawaii, Fiji and New Zealand. They would be swifter than ''Niagara'' and ''Aorangi'', and the [[Federal government of the United States]] subsidised US ships US$10 per mile to carry mail,<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16994861 |title=Ships subsidies; American lines |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |page=9 |via=Trove |date=1 August 1933 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> which gave them a competitive advantage over UK and Empire ships. In response the Union Company and Canadian Pacific created a new jointly owned subsidiary, Canadian-Australasian Line, to which the Union Company transferred ''Niagara'' and ''Aorangi''.<ref name=DS/>

[[File:"Mariposa" passenger liner next to yacht (AM 79747-1).jpg|thumb|The [[Matson, Inc.|Matson]] liner {{SS|Mariposa|1931|2}}, which with her [[sister ship]] {{SS|Monterey||2}} competed with ''Niagara'' and ''Aorangi'' from 1932 between Sydney, Auckland, Suva and Honolulu]]
In June 1936 the UK government commissioned an Imperial Shipping Committee to examine merchant shipping in the Pacific,<ref name=NA-1936-1023>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19361023.2.73 |title=Imperial Shipping Committees report |newspaper=The Northern Advocate |page=8 |via=Papers Past |date=23 October 1936 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> including problems caused by subsidised US competition. Canadian Pacific's Chairman, Sir [[Edward Wentworth Beatty|Edward Beatty]], sought support from the governments of the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji to improve Canadian-Australasian's trans-pacific service. He proposed a pair of {{GRT|22000}}, {{convert|22|kn|km/h|adj=on}} liners at a cost of £2.5 million if the governments would subsidise the service.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19360619.2.77 |title=Pacific shipping |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=9 |via=Papers Past |date=19 June 1936 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> P&O, which owned the Union Company, supported the proposal.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19360812.2.58 |title=No development. Pacific shipping problem. |newspaper=Auckland Star |page=7 |via=Papers Past |date=12 August 1936 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> The Imperial Shipping Committee recognised the problem but proposed no solution.<ref name=NA-1936-1023/>

In May and June 1937 an [[1937 Imperial Conference|Imperial Conference]] considered matters including shipping, which faced increasing Japanese competition as well as subsidised competition from US ships.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19370506.2.81 |title=Vital conference |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=11 |via=Papers Past |date=6 May 1937 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> Beatty reiterated his proposal for new {{GRT|22000}} liners to replace ''Niagara'' and ''Aorangi''.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19370608.2.52 |title=Two new liners? |newspaper=Auckland Star |page=7 |via=Papers Past |date=8 June 1937 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> Hopes were raised but no agreement was reached.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19370917.2.56 |title=British shipping in the Pacific |newspaper=The Press |page=10 |via=Papers Past |date=17 September 1937 |access-date=19 December 2020}} (editorial)</ref>

In 1938 ''Niagara'' celebrated 25 years in service. By then she had completed about 150 round trips between Australia, New Zealand and Canada.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19380404.2.114 |title=Proud sea record |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=12 |via=Papers Past |date=4 April 1938 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

[[File:SS Duchess of York.jpg|thumb|In 1939 {{SS|Duchess of York|1928|2}} was proposed as a possible replacement for ''Niagara'']]
In July 1939 Sir Edward Beatty stated that the cost of shipbuilding had now risen too high for new ships to be ordered for the transpacific route. Instead there was a proposal that the {{GRT|20021}} Canadian Pacific liner {{SS|Duchess of York|1928|2}}, or one of her sister ships, could be modified for trans-pacific service to replace ''Niagara''.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243378197 |title=May replace Niagara |newspaper=The Herald |page=5 |via=Trove |date=29 July 1939 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19390809.2.104 |title=Another liner |newspaper=Auckland Star |page=11 |via=Papers Past |date=9 August 1939 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

On 1 September 1939 [[World War II]] began. That October Canadian-Australasian Line introduced a 33 per cent war surcharge on passenger fares. In January 1940 this was reduced to 15 per cent to encourage travel between Australia and New Zealand.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/162711264 |title=Canadian Australasian Line |newspaper=[[Daily Cargo News|Daily Commercial News and Shipping List]] |page=2 |via=Trove |date=25 January 1940 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

==Loss==
On the night of 13–14 June 1940 the {{ship|German auxiliary cruiser|Orion}} laid a field of 228 [[Naval mine#Contact mines|contact mines]]{{sfn|Ingram|1972|p=372}} across the mouth of the Hauraki Gulf:<ref name=Laird>{{cite news |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/wwii-shipwreck-still-bleeding-oil/IQ2D7HUZHJBDSNVPOSJJ2AVOAI/ |last=Laird |first=Lindy |title=WWII shipwreck 'still bleeding oil' |newspaper=[[The Northern Advocate]] |publisher=NZME |date=28 August 2015 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref><ref name=Fisher>{{cite news |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-titanic-of-the-pacific-harboured-gold-then-oil-in-threat-to-hauraki-gulf/FE35YEJUSJODKMUK23DR7Q6Z6E/ |last=Fisher |first=David |title=The 'Titanic of the Pacific' harboured gold then oil in threat to Hauraki Gulf |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |publisher=[[New Zealand Media and Entertainment|NZME]] |date=28 December 2017 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> in a bid to blockade Auckland,<ref name=Williams>{{cite news |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/338308/dire-warnings-over-wreck-of-the-niagara |last=Williams |first=Lois |title=Dire warnings over wreck of the Niagara |publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=30 August 2017 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> New Zealand's largest commercial port. For the next four days ships passed in and out of Auckland without hitting any of the mines.{{sfn|Waters|1951|p=97}}

[[File:AVM Stanley Goble.jpg|thumb|upright|AVM [[Stanley Goble]] was among passengers rescued from ''Niagara'']]
On the night of 18–19 June ''Niagara'' left Auckland. She was carrying passengers including [[Royal Australian Air Force|RAAF]] [[Air vice-marshal|Air Vice Marshal]] [[Stanley Goble]], who with his wife was en route to Canada<ref name=NZH-1940-0620-12>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19400620.2.95 |title=Proud record |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=12 |via=Papers Past |date=20 June 1940 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> to be [[air liaison officer]] in [[Ottawa]]. Her cargo included half of New Zealand's entire stock of small arms ammunition. It was being sent via Canada to mitigate a shortage in the [[Dunkirk evacuation]]. In her strong room she was secretly carrying 590 gold bars from [[Union of South Africa|South Africa]], valued at £2,500,000.{{sfn|Waters|1951|p=98}} They were a payment from the [[United Kingdom]] to the then-neutral [[United States]] for munitions.

At 0340 hrs<ref name=NZH-1940-0620-11>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19400620.2.81.4 |title=Lucky again; Altmark prisoner |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=11 |via=Papers Past |date=20 June 1940 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> on 19 June ''Niagara''{{'}}s bow<ref name=Williams/> struck one of ''Orion''{{'}}s mines off [[Bream Head]].<ref name=Fisher/> The explosion blew the hatch cover and stanchions off her forward hold.<ref name=CMMA>{{cite web |url= http://www.mastermariners.org.au/stories-from-the-past/3065-the-story-of-rms-niagara-underwater-gold-mine |title=The Story of RMS Niagara - Underwater Gold Mine |publisher=Company of Master Mariners of Australia |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> The cover was blown into the sea, complete with a motor car that had been secured to it as deck cargo.<ref name=Cashman/>

''Niagara'' fired [[Flare gun|distress flares]], her wireless operator transmitted a distress message and her crew launched her 18 lifeboats.<ref name=GH-1940-0620>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GISH19400620.2.131.1 |title=Veteran ship |newspaper=[[Gisborne Herald]] |page=10 |via=Papers Past |date=20 June 1940 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> Everyone aboard successfully abandoned ship in 90 minutes,<ref name=Fisher/> without loss of life, and with only a few minor injuries.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/247534430 |title=Injured when Niagara sank |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |page=6 |via=Trove |date=8 July 1940 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> Sources disagree on the number of people involved. They are variously cited as 202 or 203 crew, and 136, 146 or 148 passengers.{{sfn|Waters|1951|p=97}}<ref name=Cashman/><ref name=CMMA/><ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/152082391 |title=Niagara rescue praised |newspaper=[[Fraser Coast Chronicle|Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser]] |page=5 |via=Trove |date=2 July 1940 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> The evacuation was helped by her electric lighting continuing to function.{{sfn|Ingram|1972|p=372}}

''Niagara''{{'}}s stern rose clear of the water before she sank by her bow<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19400620.2.69 |title="Like a regatta" |newspaper=Auckland Star |page=8 |via=Papers Past |date=20 June 1940 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> at 0532 hrs<ref name=NZH-1940-0620-11/> in {{convert|70|fathom|m}} of water<ref name=Gill>{{cite book |last=Gill |first=G Hermon |author-link=G. Hermon Gill |title=Royal Australian Navy 1939–1942 |series=Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 2 – Navy |volume=1 |year=1957 |place=Canberra |publisher=Australian War Memorial |pages=125–126 |url=http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/second_world_war/volume.asp?levelID=67910 |access-date=4 November 2013 |archive-date=25 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525001721/http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/second_world_war/volume.asp?levelID=67910 |url-status=dead }}</ref> between the [[Mokohinau Islands]] and Hen and Chicken Islands.<ref name=Laird/> Her sinking ended a 27-year career in which ''Niagara'' made 162 round trips between Australia, New Zealand and Canada and sailed nearly {{convert|2500000|nmi|km}}.<ref name=NZH-1940-0620-12/>

At dawn the lifeboats were scattered over an area of about {{convert|1|sqmi}}.<ref name=GH-1940-0620/> Shortly after 0800 hrs the cruiser {{HMS|Achilles|70|6}} sighted them.{{sfn|Waters|1951|p=97}} An aircraft circled them, then at 1030 hrs a fast motor launch arrived whose crew told the lifeboat crews in which direction to steer. The lifeboats proceeded under sail until their occupants were rescued by "a large liner in the vicinity" that was diverted to the scene.<ref name=GH-1940-0620/> Under conditions of wartime secrecy, news reports at the time did not disclose that it was [[Huddart Parker]]'s {{GRT|9576}} [[Trans-Tasman]] liner {{MS|Wanganella||2}}. The [[Northern Steamship Company]] [[Coastal trading vessel|coaster]] ''Kapiti'' and a number of launches transferred survivors from the lifeboats to ''Wanganella''.{{sfn|Waters|1951|p=98}}

''Niagara''{{'}}s only apparent fatality was her [[ship's cat]], a five-year-old grey and white long-haired tom called Aussie. His mother had been ''Niagara''{{'}}s cat before him, his father was a [[Persian cat|Persian]] in Vancouver and Aussie was born at Suva. Aussie was put in one of the lifeboats when ''Niagara'' was being abandoned, but he jumped back aboard ship. A few days later, residents of [[Horahora, Whangarei]] claimed that a cat answering Aussie's description came ashore on a piece of driftwood, and that one of them had taken him in, but the cat escaped and had not been seen since.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19400702.2.49 |title=The Niagara's cat |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |page=6 |via=Papers Past |date=2 July 1940 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

==Gold salvage==
The UK government urgently needed the gold to be salvaged from the wreck. This had been done before. In 1917 two German mines had sunk the armed merchant cruiser {{SS|Laurentic|1908|2}} off the coast of [[Ireland]]. She was carrying 3,211 gold bars, most of which were salvaged by [[Royal Navy]] divers between 1917 and 1924. The amount was more than 43 tons: five times as much as ''Niagara'' was carrying.

Nor was the depth unprecedented. in 1932 an Italian salvage contractor had recovered [[Sovereign (British coin)|sovereigns]] and silver [[bullion]] worth £1 million from the wreck of the [[P&O]] liner {{SS|Egypt||2}} in the [[English Channel]]. ''Egypt'' lay at a depth of {{cvt|170|m|disp=flip}}, which was even deeper than ''Niagara''.

However, the depth at which ''Niagara'' lay was a great challenge, and it was in a minefield. Minesweepers disposed of three mines after ''Niagara'' was sunk,{{sfn|Ingram|1972|p=372}} but no-one on the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] side of the war knew how many ''Orion'' had laid.

===1941===
The [[Royal Australian Navy]] dismissed the idea of trying to salvage the gold.<ref name=Thompson>{{cite news |url= https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/2849101/diving-bell-a-deep-mystery/ |last=Thompson |first=Renee |title=Historic diving bell built to recover $5m in gold after NZ shipwreck |newspaper=[[Bendigo Advertiser]] |publisher=[[Australian Community Media]] |date=31 January 2015 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> But the Bank of England offered a fee of £27,000 plus 2.5 per cent of the value of any gold recovered. A syndicate from [[Melbourne]], Australia accepted the offer. Captain JP Williams, Captain J Herd<ref name=CMMA/> and chief diver John Edwards Johnstone led the syndicate, which was called either the United Salvage Syndicate<ref name=Cashman/> or United Salvage Proprietary Ltd.<ref name=CMMA/>

An engineer from Melbourne, David Isaacs, designed a [[diving chamber]] for the salvagers.<ref name=Thompson/> A company in [[Castlemaine, Victoria|Castlemaine]] variously referred to as Thompson's Engineering and Pipe Co<ref name=HDS>{{cite web |url= http://www.historicaldivingsociety.com.au/resources/historic-diving-places-of-interest/#toggle-id-24 |title=Historic Diving Places of Interest |publisher=Historical Diving Society Australia – Pacific |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> or Thompson's Foundry made the chamber in conditions of strict wartime secrecy.<ref name=Thompson/> It is made of [[bronze|manganese bronze]], has several small [[Fused quartz|quartz glass]] portholes, is built to withstand pressure to a depth of {{convert|125|fathom|m}} and weighs three [[tonne]]s.<ref name=HDS/> It is cylindrical, with a bulbous top, and just big enough for one man to stand inside.<ref name=Thompson/>

The salvagers obtained the use of ''[[Port vessels of the Royal New Zealand Navy#Boom defence vessels|Claymore]]'', a {{GRT|260}} [[Northern Steamship Company]] coaster that had been built in 1902<ref>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/40/40b0101.pdf |year=1940 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships under 300 tons, Trawlers, &c |volume=II |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |via=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> and was now rusting in Auckland harbour. Her steam engine was unreliable, one of her propeller blades was missing and her hull constantly needed patching, but she seems to have been the only ship available.<ref name=Cashman/>

''Claymore'' was fitted out with the chamber and a [[Grab (tool)|grab]] to convert her into a [[Salvage tug|salvage ship]]. The salvagers based themselves at [[Whangārei]] and began operations on 15 December 1940. ''Claymore'' searched for the wreck by dragging her anchor across the seabed. Twice she fouled mines that ''Orion'' had planted, and was fortunate not to be sunk. Once the diving chamber became fouled with the anchor wire of one of the mines.<ref name=Thompson/> On 2 February 1941 ''Claymore'' found ''Niagara''.<ref name=CMMA/>

''Niagara'' lies on her port side.<ref name=CMMA/> The salvagers used explosives to try to blast open her hull, but with little success. Salvagers then used the grab to open the wreck bit by bit. One diver was lowered in the diving chamber to observe the grab, and passed instructions by telephone up to the grab operator aboard ''Claymore''. The divers were John Johnstone and his brother William, who between them made 316 descents to the wreck.<ref name=CMMA/> Eventually the operation exposed ''Niagara''{{'}}s strong room.<ref name=Thompson/>

In October 1941 the salvage crew used explosives to open the strong room door.<ref name=Thompson/> The first two gold bars were recovered on 13 October.<ref name=CMMA/> By December 1941 they had recovered 555 of the 590 gold bars.<ref name=Thompson/> The salvage operation was ended on 8 December, the day after the Japanese [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].<ref name=CMMA/>

The diving chamber was later returned to Castlemaine, possibly early in the 1980s.<ref name=Thompson/> It is now preserved and displayed in the historic Castlemaine Market Building.<ref name=HDS/>

===1953===
In 1953 Johnstone returned with a different salvage ship and more modern equipment. ''Foremost 17'' had been built in 1911 as ''Port of London Authority No. 9'', a {{GRT|583}} [[hopper barge]] for the [[Port of London Authority]].<ref>{{cite book |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30b0421.pdf |year=1930 |title=Lloyd's Register |chapter=Steamers & Motorships |volume=II |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |via=Plimsoll Ship Data |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> In 1925 the PLA sold her and her new owner renamed her ''Foremost 17''. She passed through several private owners, until in 1940 the Admiralty bought her and had her converted into a salvage ship. In June 1944 she was at [[Gold Beach]] where [[Mulberry harbour#Mulberry "B" ("Port Winston")|Mulberry Harbour B]] was built to supply the [[Operation Overlord|Allied invasion of Normandy]]. In 1947 the Admiralty sold her to a British Company, Risdon Beazley, and by about 1952 she was in Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://clydeships.co.uk/view.php?official_number=&imo=&builder=&builder_eng=&year_built=&launch_after=&launch_before=&role=&propulsion=&category=&owner=&port=&flag=&disposal=&lost=&ref=24163&vessel=PORT+OF+LONDON+AUTHORITY+HOPPER+NO+9 |title=Port of London Authority Hopper No 9 |work=Scottish Built Ships |publisher=Caledonian Maritime Research Trust |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

''Foremost 17'', like ''Claymore'', was equipped with a diving chamber from which to direct work on the wreck. But instead of a grab, ''Foremost 17'' had what Johnstone called the "iron man". This was described as having robotic arms and legs that could walk on the sea bed at depth, picking up heavy objects. It was operated directly from the diving chamber, instead of relying on an observer relaying instructions to an operator on the surface.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206444116 |title=Niagara yields up more gold |newspaper=The Age |page=6 |via=Trove |date=23 June 1953 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

''Foremost 17'' found ''Niagara'' on 16 April 1953.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/49260488 |title=After gold of Niagara |newspaper=[[The Barrier Miner]] |page=2 |via=Trove |date=16 April 1953 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> By 23 July she had recovered 30 of the 35 remaining gold bars and Johnstone had ended the salvage operation.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206446709 |title=Sea retains five gold bars |newspaper=The Age |page=13 |via=Trove |date=23 July 1953 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> Five bars remain unaccounted for.

==The wreck since 1953==
A New Zealand law passed in 1979 protects an underwater communications cable that passes near the wreck. This law forbids any vessel anchoring above the wreck<ref name=Fisher/> without special permission.

In 1988 marine salvage specialist Keith Gordon from [[Albany, New Zealand]] explored the wreck with a [[remotely operated underwater vehicle]].<ref name=Gregory>{{cite news |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/titanic-of-the-south-pacific-now-a-ticking-timebomb/JFZU76JY5LEJDXVOWP3YWDSMKM/ |last=Gregory |first=Angela |title=Titanic of the South Pacific now a 'ticking timebomb' |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |publisher=NZME |date=30 June 2000 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

The wreck has become an [[artificial reef]], rich with marine life. Since 1999 [[Scuba diving|scuba divers]] have visited and explored it.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/divers-explore-magnificent-wreck/RDQGXSZXHNJP43OMEVVFFBZ6AA/ |last=Jackson |first=Daniel |title=Divers explore magnificent wreck |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |publisher=NZME |date=27 July 2001 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> Where the strong room used to be is now a crater littered with débris.<ref name=Cashman/>

Gordon recovered ''Niagara''{{'}}s [[Ship's bell|bell]] in 2007.<ref name=Laird/>

===Environment===
[[File:Wade Doak QSM (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Wade Doak]] has described ''Niagara''{{'}}s wreck as an environmental "ticking timebomb"]]
''Niagara''{{'}}s fuel oil capacity was 5,000 tons.<ref name=Star-1913-0425/> [[Maritime New Zealand]] says it does not know how much oil remains in the wreck.<ref name=Williams/> News reports from the 2010s variously estimate the amount at 1,000 [[tonne]]s,<ref name=Fisher/> 1,500 tonnes,<ref name=Williams/> or 4,200 tons<ref name=Laird/> (sic).

Oil has escaped from her wreck ever since she was sunk in 1940.<ref name=Fisher/> In the 1980s Keith Gordon saw oil escaping from the wreck<ref name=Gregory/> and forming a slick {{convert|15|km|nmi|0|disp=flip}} long.<ref name=Williams/> Another escape was photographed in 2000,<ref name=Laird/> when marine environmentalist [[Wade Doak]] described the wreck as a "ticking timebomb", threatening Whangārei's [[Avicennia marina|mangrove]] systems and the Hen and Chickens Islands nature reserve.<ref name=Gregory/> In 2015 she was described as "still bleeding oil".<ref name=Laird/>

Maritime NZ says that the remaining oil is in a semi-solid state because of the pressure and low temperature at that depth. But the wreck is deteriorating, and [[climate change]] is increasing the sea temperature. A new contingency plan was made in 2016 in case a large amount of oil suddenly escapes.<ref name=Fisher/>

Environmentalists including Doak,<ref name=Gregory/> salvage experts, and Auckland politician [[Mike Lee (New Zealand politician)|Mike Lee]] have called for the oil to be extracted from the wreck to prevent such a disaster.<ref name=Fisher/><ref name=Williams/> In 2017 Gordon estimated that with modern technology, the oil could be extracted at a cost of about [[New Zealand dollar|NZ$]]6 million.<ref name=Fisher/> In 2018 an art exhibition was held in [[Mangawhai Heads]] to raise public awareness of the environmental threat from the wreck.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/environmental-time-bomb-in-the-hauraki-gulf-focus-of-exhibition-call-to-action/KYEM2TIHJGPXM5MNIIKAHEFFX4/ |title=Environmental 'time bomb' in the Hauraki Gulf focus of exhibition, call to action |newspaper=New Zealand Herald |publisher=NZME |date=9 February 2018 |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |last1=Denniston |first1=JE |last2=Mitchelson |first2=E |last3=McLaren |first3=D |year=1919 |title=Influenza Epidemic Commission (report of the) |place=Wellington |publisher=Marcus F Marks |via=AtoJs online |url= https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&d=AJHR1919-I.2.2.4.45&e=-------10--1------0--}}
*{{cite book |last1=Dunn |first1=RJ |last2=Johnstone |first2=J |year=1942 |title=Niagara Gold: The romantic story of sunken treasure retrieved from record ocean depths, New Zealand |publisher=AH & AW Reed}}
*{{cite book |last=Gordon |first=Keith |year=2005 |title=Deep Water Gold: the story of RMS Niagara – the quest for New Zealand's greatest shipwreck treasure |place=Whangārei |publisher=SeaROV Technologies |isbn=0-473-10056-8}}
*{{cite book |last=Ingram |first=CWN |orig-year=1936 |year=1972 |title=New Zealand Shipwrecks 1795–1970 |edition=4 |place=Wellington |publisher=Reed |isbn=0-589-00715-7 |pages=372–373}}
*{{cite book |author=The Marconi Press Agency Ltd |author-link=Marconi Company |year=1914 |title=The Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony |place=London |publisher=The Marconi Press Agency Ltd}}
*{{cite book |last=Maynard |first=Jeff |year=1996 |title=Niagara's Gold: how an Australian and New Zealand team salvaged eight tons of gold from a German minefield |place=Kenthurst |publisher=Kangaroo Press |isbn=978-0864177667}}
*{{cite book |last=Taylor |first=James |year=1943 |title=Gold from the Sea |place=London |publisher=[[George G. Harrap and Co.]]}}
*{{cite book |last=Waters |first=Sydney D |year=1951 |title=Union Line A Short History of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand Limited 1875–1951}}
*{{cite book |last=Wilson |first=RM |year=1956 |title=The Big Ships |place=London |publisher=[[Cassell (publisher)|Cassell & Co]]}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Niagara (ship, 1912)}}
*{{cite web |url= https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22677263 |title=John Brown & Company Ltd. Photo Department (Clydebank, Scotland) :Launching of the RMS Niagara, Clydebank, 17th August 1912 |date=January 1912 |publisher=[[National Library of New Zealand]]}}

{{June 1940 shipwrecks}}
{{coord|35|51|50|S|174|56|38|E|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Niagara, RMS}}
[[Category:1912 ships]]
[[Category:1918 in New Zealand]]
[[Category:1940 in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1927]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1928]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1935]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in June 1940]]
[[Category:Ocean liners of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ships built in Glasgow]]
[[Category:Ships of the Union Steam Ship Company]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by mines]]
[[Category:Ships sunk with no fatalities]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of the Northland Region]]
[[Category:Spanish flu pandemic]]
[[Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War I passenger ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean]]