Matua was built by Hawthorn Lislie Ltd. Newcastle upon Tyne in 1936. A popular ship in her day on the pacific Island run with accommodation for 40 passengers. Matua visited such ports as Auckland, Rarotonga, Nukualofa, Vavau, Nuie Island, Pago Pago, Apia, Suva, Lautoka. She carried Meat and general cargo North bound and Bananas, copra etc. South bound. The vessel was sold to "K" Shipping Corporation, Manila in 1968 and renamed 'Sultan'. Ran aground during typhoon in Manila Bay 1969. Subsequqntly salvged by Taiwan shipbreakers and broken up at Kaohsiung in 1970.