Silver entrée dish: from the wreck of RMS NIAGARA
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Recovered in July 1953, this dish was presented to Sir Ernest Davis, a prominent Aucklander, by Mr. Rodney Paul, Salvage Superintendent. NIAGARA was a well-known luxury ocean liner, which sailed between Vancouver, Auckland and Sydney. On the morning of June 19, 1940, NIAGARA struck a German mine 48 kms from the entrance to Whangarei Harbour. After just one hour and forty minutes she had sunk 133 metres below the waters of the Pacific. All 146 passengers and 203 crew members were rescued. NIAGARA was carrying about eight tons of gold bars, valued at approximately £2,500,000. The gold came from South Africa and was destined for the United States for the purchase of military equipment for the British Army. Over the years most of the gold has been recovered during a number of salvage operations.
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