The Ships of Omaha

THE SHIPS OF OMAHA NEW ZEALAND 1858-1921

First edition 2008

 Authors & Copyright holders  – Carol & James Ramage

 Synopsis

The book is about the Ships built at Omaha by the Meiklejohn family, David Darroch, the Matheson family and a few others. It briefly introduces each family and then writes about their ships in chronological order. It records the Official Registration details, stories about the ship in narrative form, her fate and a list of the owners. Where families or businesses have owned a number of the ships there is a brief account of those families and businesses.

Format

The book is 164 A4 glossy pages of text and illustrations in portrait format. The book includes many images, both monochrome and colour and is referenced and indexed.

Included are four maps: Omaha District, Shipwrecks of Meiklejohn Built Ships, Shipwrecks of David Darroch built ships and the Streets of Omaha Beach which are named after some of the ships.

 About the Authors

Carol Ramage is the great, great grand-daughter of James Strange Meiklejohn and his wife Catherine who came to New Zealand with their family in 1858 and settled at Omaha. Her great grandfather, Septimus Meiklejohn is credited with building Lake Erie, the first scow in New Zealand.

James Ramage has been coming to the Omaha district for many years and has now made it his home. He has an interest in the sea, as a teenager he was a Sea Cadet and later served with the Royal New Zealand Navy Volunteer Reserve.

 Distribution

Current suppliers:

James & Carol Ramage

The Village Book Shop Matakana

Take Note Warkworth

Books of Oceania Whangarei

Waipu Museum

NZ National Maritime Museum

Boat Books Ltd

The recommended retail price is

$NZ 49.00 plus packaging/postage

 

Author Contact Details 

Carol and James Ramage can be contacted on:

(09) 422-7567 or by e-mail at carol.ramage@xtra.co.nz

SHIPS BUILT BY THE MEIKLEJOHNS

1859 Pioneer

1860 Ruby (Caroline)

1861 Victoria

1862 Excelsior

1863 Success

1864 Rapid

1864 Queen

1865 Argo

1866 Blue Bell

1867 Day Dawn

1868 Twilight

1872 Zior

1873 Lake Erie

1874 Omaha

1876 Hinemoa

1876 Lake Michigan

1878 Lagoon

1879 Rona

1882 Ruakaka

1888 Hauturu

1891 Bee

SHIPS BUILT BY DAVID DARROCH

1883 Una

1884 Ida

1886 Dungarvon

1888 Irene

1892 May (Waiti)

1893 Excelsior

1893 Shamrock

1894 Thistle

1896 Whakapai

1897 Oban (Motiti)

1899 Kahu

1899 St Anne

1900 Surprise

1901 Southern Isle (Te Wakatu)

1902 Eunice

1903 Rita

1904 Reliance

1904 Glenae (Tamahae, Lady Gwen II)

1905 Pahiki

1905 Edith

1905 Scot

1905 Tuahine

1906 Huia

1907 Daphne (Rahiri)

1908 Jane Gifford

1908 Esme

1908 Ethel Wells

1908 Nor’West

1909 Kaiaia

1910 Lena Gladys

1911 Kitty Fraser

1912 Kapua

1912 Onerahi

1921 Ngahau

1924 Owhiti (Built at Auckland)

1925 Alwin G (Sucess) (Built at Auckland)

 

SHIPS BUILT BY THE MATHESONS

1864 Saucy Lass

1866 Mary Ann

1867 Coquette

1873 Ryno

1876 Rangatira

1882 Three Cheers

1901 Endeavour

OTHER SHIPS BUILT IN OMAHA BAY

1860 Emma Eliza

1865 Banshee

1866 Cora

1867 Flying Cloud

1874 Acadia