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My Great Aunt, Gladys Mabel Smith, came out to Wellington on the "Corinthic" in 1928. She settled in Canterbury, New Zealand  Below is the third class menu card that she held on to for donkey years that lead us to find the passenger list. Archives New Zealand, in Wellington, has a shipping card index. We looked up the name "Corinthic" and the card index listed its numerous voyages, found one dated 28 August 1928, then ordered the two volumes for 1928 page 114. Page 114 is the page number in the book which listed the entry for Miss G Smith. It must be Gladys. Will get a photocopy of the page, next time. I had Gladys born in 1899 so the age fits. Now have confirmed
Born: 12 Oct. 1998 in Lit Green Estate Compton, Sussex, England on an estate where her father [George Thomas Smith bc. 1849 - 1951] was as gardener and her mother a cook [Ada Louise b. 1829 in Petersfield, Hampshire - died 1958 in Trunch Norfolk.]
Christening: 20 Nov 1898 Christening Place: East Meon, Hampshire, England.

Gladys was single and 29 years old when she came out to New Zealand. During the war Gladys worked at a munitions factory, had to wear a uniform, a smock with a striped tie. After WWI the English Government passed the Empire Settlement Act. Under the terms of this Act anyone 16 and over could receive assistance to go to one of the colonies. Gladys married Arthur Palmer Bray in 1930. They were farmers on Sherwood Downs near Fairlie. Gladys was very interested in cattle breeding. She never lost her strong British accent. They retired to Waimate where Gladys raised sheep in the middle of town and became a town council member. Gladys was talkative so I am sure she did well on the Council. Olwyn. Posted 24 August 2004, updated May 2012.

Search index B/T 27 Outward -bound covering 1890 - 1960 on ancestorsonboard, a commercial site. Work out the name of the vessel by putting in a few of the home liner names.

28 August 1928  page 114
No. 260
Ticket A332
SMITH Miss G
Age 29
Domestic
English
Arrival port Wellington
Departed Southampton
482 passengers and 190 crew.

The Corinthic of 12,3667 tons gross, was built for the White Star Line in 1902. She was well known to hundreds of New Zealanders. During the War she was used as a troopship. October 21 1931 was her final voyage from Wellington to England before going to the ship-breakers. "Farewell, New Zealand, and thank-you" was her reply to signals from shore as she steamed out of Wellington. She was built before the days of veneer, and her solid oak fittings are as good as when they were fitted. 

Mr John MacMillan, general manger of the Shaw Savill and Albion Company, regretted that the Corinthic was leaving the line while her hull and engines were still good for some years of service, but the fall in third-class passenger traffic due to the stoppage of emigration, the drop in number of second and first class passengers, and the growing maintenance cost of the ship as she advanced in age brought the decision to scrap the vessel.

Dec. 10. 1931. The house flag was lowered by Sir Thomas Wilford, High Commissioner for New Zealand, before she leaves the Tyne for the last time. He was joined by the captain, and crew on the saloon deck and the children from East Ham schools sang an improvised valedictory, "Farewell to the Corinthic" which recounted the history of the ship, to the tune of "Tipperary", and the ship's bugler sounded the Retreat. When the flag was being slowly hauled down cheers were given for the old pioneer of the New Zealand butter fleet, and as it touched the deck the company sang the National Anthem. In the speeches that followed tributes were paid to the long service of the ship in the line and as troopship during the Great War, and it was announced that her complete freedom from mishap had earned her the proud title of being the "luckiest ship in the world."

The following history of the ship is taken from: Chuck's Hobbies: A Celebration of Ships, Part Two
The Corinthic was a 15,682-ton turbine-powered steamship. She was one of 4 passenger-cargo liners which the London-based shipping line of Shaw, Savill, & Albion ordered after the end of the Second World War to serve on its New Zealand route. Corinthic was capable of a speed of 17-knots and she was designed to carry 85 First-Class passengers along with a substantial cargo.

The Corinthic was built at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, England, and she began service between London and New Zealand in the Spring of 1947. Corinthic was soon joined on the London to New Zealand route by 3 more sister ships -- TSS Athenic, which began service in August 1947, TSS Gothic, which made her maiden voyage in December 1948, and a third sister, TSS Ceramic, which joined them in late 1948.

In 1965, both the Corinthic and Athenic were converted into cargo vessels. The two other sisters Gothic and Ceramic continued to carry passengers, but, in 1968, Gothic suffered a terrible fire which took 7 lives. Although the fire damage was repaired, the liner never fully recovered from that catastrophe and she was sold for breakup at Taiwan in late 1968. Corinthic and Athenic followed Gothic to the scrapyard in 1969. The last of the 4 sisters, Ceramic, carried on alone until 1972, when she, too, was sold for break-up in Belgium.

Evening Post, 22 December 1906, Page 14
First Friend (on deck of ocean steamer to seasick companion) Have you dined, old man?
Second Friend (faintly) � On the contrary.