The Tokelau served the High Commissioner for the British Western Pacific Territories for a number of years as a general Government steamer after having been brought by the British Government, and converted into a yacht for the Resident Commissioner of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.

The delivery crew of the newly named S.S. Tokelau arrived back in Australia as passengers aboard the Oplan of Sandefjord from Ocean Island & Nauru on 20 May 1909 The delivery crew consisted of the Norwegian Pettersen C. and the British Baldwin S., Smith S., Wickstroke R., Irvine and Wilmott.

The vessel was used in the distribution of aid during a famine induced by drought in 1910:
The Gilbert Island natives are in a terribly bad way owing to the severe drought.
Private advices received in Sydney today by the mail from the islands tell of the distress among the natives.
No rain has fallen at the islands for months, and the native food supplies have become exhausted.
The position became so acute that the Government steamer Tokelau was commissioned to proceed round the southern islands with rations for the distressed natives.
Four whole districts on the island of Tapitenia out of 16, besides many people from other districts, are being supplied by the Government.
It is proposed to bring the people from the northern end of the island of Nonuti to the central village Matan, to facilitate the serving out of supplies.
As much as 20 or 30 tons of rice is being distributed every few weeks to relieve the distress among the poor natives.
The cocoanuts available on Nonata Island had been purchased by the Government for food supplies.

While in the Gilbert Group the S.S. Tokelau was lying beached for cleaning in Tarawa lagoon and the Captain and Chief Engineer wanted to go out for a sail in weather that threatened to turn nasty, so they took a local, Teriakai to look after them.
 Teriakai at the time was well known for single handed in water combat with tiger sharks with just a knife.
He was at the time  a guest of His Majesty's, having got himself into trouble for a rather too carefree interpretation of the marriage laws.
He was an exceptionally welcome guest; his vital, stocky frame was the equal of a giant's for work, and the bubbling of his unquenchable humour kept his warders as well as his fellow-prisoners laughing and labouring from morning to night.
A happy prison is a tremendous asset to any Government Station.
Whenever there was a special job to be done, he was the man we always chose to do it.

The vessel was put up for sale August 1915:
BROWN and JOSKE have been instructed by His Excellency the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific to sell by PUBLIC AUCTION' at their Rooms in Thomson street, Suva, on Saturday, 11 September, at 11 am.


The single screw wooden steamer "Tokelau" of 92 net tonnage, built in New South Wales in 1903, 120 feet length overall, 22 feet breadth, depth of hold 7ft.
6 in.,
length of top deck 80 feet, gross tonnage 162 tons

Engines, evaporator, condenser, and dynamo In good condition, Accommodation consists of two saloon cabins and mess room forward, six cabins aft, two bathrooms, and two W.C.'s.
Forecastle for eight; large divided fore peak.


This vessel is very suitable for trading in the islands 
For further particulars apply to
The Secretary, Western Pacific High commissioner, Suva, or to the auctioneer.

The vessel appeared to make its way into Australian waters on 1 March 1916 when the vessel arrived in Sydney from Suva still using Tokelau as its name.
The vessel was sailed over by Captain Dearie with A H Hassell (the future registered owner) acting as its agents with it docked at Beatties wharf.
The Tokelau served the High Commissioner for the British Western Pacific Territories for a number of years as a general Government steamer after having been brought by the British Government, and converted into a yacht for the Resident Commissioner of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.
The delivery crew of the newly named S.S. Tokelau arrived back in Australia as passengers aboard the Oplan of Sandefjord from Ocean Island & Nauru on 20 May 1909 The delivery crew consisted of the Norwegian Pettersen C. and the British Baldwin S., Smith S., Wickstroke R., Irvine and Wilmott.
The vessel was used in the distribution of aid during a famine induced by drought in 1910:
The Gilbert Island natives are in a terribly bad way owing to the severe drought. Private advices received in Sydney today by the mail from the islands tell of the distress among the natives. No rain has fallen at the islands for months, and the native food supplies have become exhausted. The position became so acute that the Government steamer Tokelau was commissioned to proceed round the southern islands with rations for the distressed natives. Four whole districts on the island of Tapitenia out of 16, besides many people from other districts, are being supplied by the Government. It is proposed to bring the people from the northern end of the island of Nonuti to the central village Matan, to facilitate the serving out of supplies. As much as 20 or 30 tons of rice is being distributed every few weeks to relieve the distress among the poor natives. The cocoanuts available on Nonata Island had been purchased by the Government for food supplies.
While in the Gilbert Group the S.S. Tokelau was lying beached for cleaning in Tarawa lagoon and the Captain and Chief Engineer wanted to go out for a sail in weather that threatened to turn nasty, so they took a local, Teriakai to look after them.  Teriakai at the time was well known for single handed in water combat with tiger sharks with just a knife. He was at the time  a guest of His Majesty's, having got himself into trouble for a rather too carefree interpretation of the marriage laws. He was an exceptionally welcome guest; his vital, stocky frame was the equal of a giant's for work, and the bubbling of his unquenchable humour kept his warders as well as his fellow-prisoners laughing and labouring from morning to night. A happy prison is a tremendous asset to any Government Station. Whenever there was a special job to be done, he was the man we always chose to do it.
The vessel was put up for sale August 1915:
BROWN and JOSKE have been instructed by His Excellency the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific to sell by PUBLIC AUCTION' at their Rooms in Thomson street, Suva, on Saturday, 11 September, at 11 am.

The single screw wooden steamer "Tokelau" of 92 net tonnage, built in New South Wales in 1903, 120 feet length overall, 22 feet breadth, depth of hold 7ft. 6 in., length of top deck 80 feet, gross tonnage 162 tons

Engines, evaporator, condenser, and dynamo In good condition, Accommodation consists of two saloon cabins and mess room forward, six cabins aft, two bathrooms, and two W.C.'s. Forecastle for eight; large divided fore peak.

This vessel is very suitable for trading in the islands 
For further particulars apply to
The Secretary, Western Pacific High commissioner, Suva, or to the auctioneer.
The vessel appeared to make its way into Australian waters on 1 March 1916 when the vessel arrived in Sydney from Suva still using Tokelau as its name. The vessel was sailed over by Captain Dearie with A H Hassell (the future registered owner) acting as its agents with it docked at Beatties wharf.
Tuncurry (1903)