William Charles Good
Date of birth
Circa 1861
Date of death
03 Dec 1930
Place of birth
Biography
Gisborne's unique ship house at the corner of Childers Road and Cobden Street, long a star attraction for visitors to the town, presents a wealth of interest both inside and out. Allied as it is to the best-remembered wreck on these coasts, it has a fascination for both the student of history and for the casual tourist.
The Star of Canada went ashore on the Kaiti rocks, close to Gisborne, on June 23, 1912, and all attempts to save her were doomed to failure from the start. Eventually she was abandoned to the underwriters. A Gisborne businessman, Mr V. [sp] Good, purchased the bridge section intact, and had it transferred to his property in Childers Road, where it has remained ever since. Making a play with words, a magazine writer entitled it "The Ship that came ashore for Good", and indeed it has never failed to provide material for writers' pens and photographers' cameras.
Today the Star of Canada's bridge, still embellished with the original lifebelts, keeps an even keel in a sea of tidy lawn, anchored for aye among trees and shrubs. But on a day when storm clouds are scudding overhead and the wind in the Phoenix palm nearby makes a noise like the sea, it almost seems that the "Star of Canada" is sailing again.
When the Star of Canada went into service, she was the pride of the Tyser Line. A vessel of 7280 tons, 470 feet in length, with a beam of 58 feet, she was fitted out with the best of materials. The painting above depicts the ill-fated ship in all her glory, ploughing through the ocean highways, with no thought aboard her of what fate had in store.
That fate came on the night of June 23, 1912, when she was anchored in the roadstead off Gisborne. A violent gale arose and before steam could be raised, the vessel began to drag her anchor. At midnight she struck the rocks. Top picture shows water being pumped out of her in refloating attempt.
All such effort was without avail. On July 3 she broke her back, and months later what was left of her was blown up.
The bridge section of the ship was brought ashore by barge. Here it is at the wharf, ready for unloading.
Steam road-roller was used to tow it through the streets.
From 1913 to 1927 it stood in Mr Good's grounds just as it had come off the ship. Mr and Mrs Good are seen in the front seat of their "Overland" car in this picture.`
In 1927, Mr Good decided to convert his purchase into a residence for his daughter. He had a dining-room built under the after-deck, and a lounge under the bridge deck. With other improvements, including a galley at the rear and suitable landscaping of the surroundings, the "ship house" as it is known today began to take shape.
"Photo News" was conducted over the "ship ashore" by Mrs Lorna Woodfield, daughter of the original owner, Mr Good. Although nautical house is not now occupied, Mrs Woodfield (who lives next door), keeps it in spic and span condition, ready, as you might say, to sail at a moment's notice.
accessed 03/06/2021 from: https://photonews.org.nz/gisborne/issue/GPN92_19620222/t1-body-d40.html
The Star of Canada went ashore on the Kaiti rocks, close to Gisborne, on June 23, 1912, and all attempts to save her were doomed to failure from the start. Eventually she was abandoned to the underwriters. A Gisborne businessman, Mr V. [sp] Good, purchased the bridge section intact, and had it transferred to his property in Childers Road, where it has remained ever since. Making a play with words, a magazine writer entitled it "The Ship that came ashore for Good", and indeed it has never failed to provide material for writers' pens and photographers' cameras.
Today the Star of Canada's bridge, still embellished with the original lifebelts, keeps an even keel in a sea of tidy lawn, anchored for aye among trees and shrubs. But on a day when storm clouds are scudding overhead and the wind in the Phoenix palm nearby makes a noise like the sea, it almost seems that the "Star of Canada" is sailing again.
When the Star of Canada went into service, she was the pride of the Tyser Line. A vessel of 7280 tons, 470 feet in length, with a beam of 58 feet, she was fitted out with the best of materials. The painting above depicts the ill-fated ship in all her glory, ploughing through the ocean highways, with no thought aboard her of what fate had in store.
That fate came on the night of June 23, 1912, when she was anchored in the roadstead off Gisborne. A violent gale arose and before steam could be raised, the vessel began to drag her anchor. At midnight she struck the rocks. Top picture shows water being pumped out of her in refloating attempt.
All such effort was without avail. On July 3 she broke her back, and months later what was left of her was blown up.
The bridge section of the ship was brought ashore by barge. Here it is at the wharf, ready for unloading.
Steam road-roller was used to tow it through the streets.
From 1913 to 1927 it stood in Mr Good's grounds just as it had come off the ship. Mr and Mrs Good are seen in the front seat of their "Overland" car in this picture.`
In 1927, Mr Good decided to convert his purchase into a residence for his daughter. He had a dining-room built under the after-deck, and a lounge under the bridge deck. With other improvements, including a galley at the rear and suitable landscaping of the surroundings, the "ship house" as it is known today began to take shape.
"Photo News" was conducted over the "ship ashore" by Mrs Lorna Woodfield, daughter of the original owner, Mr Good. Although nautical house is not now occupied, Mrs Woodfield (who lives next door), keeps it in spic and span condition, ready, as you might say, to sail at a moment's notice.
accessed 03/06/2021 from: https://photonews.org.nz/gisborne/issue/GPN92_19620222/t1-body-d40.html
