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Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 193, 16 August 1910, Page 6

•Captain master trading in ajid out of Wellington* bae just got a step up'-the ladder (saya the "Free Lance"). ;JHe. lately left'the BlackbaU Coal Company's coUier bexe, in order to taKe command of;tlie company's new steanier, Ngatoro, jiist arrfved'in tliese waters. Captain Christian is a weather-beaten little mariner, well up in years, but as iardy -as ..-they. - build them.' He has commanded vessel*, on and off the New Zealand coast for • considerably over forty years. ■ Away. :. tack in 1868, he was the skipper ,of ,tna 9 three-masted schoonej Eifleman, whicli"made history" in that year expected manner. Captain <3iiiStian had ijone' down to the Chatham Islands with . a of stores for' the Government militaSjr prison- estabUslnnent - there, •where the after ward's notorious Te Kooti and manyvother Maori prisoners of war were confined. While be -was ashore, tae Maoris rose, overcame their guards (under Captain Thomas), and seized^ .the schooner. Ml hands crowded aboard the vessel, and forced-the crew to makeeaiU They compelled the mate to navigate them to the Ne^Zealandcoast^nd land them at Whaieongaonga, just to._tt» south of Poverty Bay, The Poverty Bay massacre and the two or: three years war tKat followed arematfers of history. The Eifleman was brought down to Wellington by the after Ie Kooti had done her. She was afterwards, ■Wβ believe, lost on the NewZea land coast with all hands. As far u*U known, Captain Ch/.istian is tae only survivor of that old-time crew. : The following recommendation was before the Harbour Board this afternoon from the Works Committee m reference to a copy of letter forwarded by the Marine Department from Vice-Admiral Poore on the of the re-survey of Kangitoto Channel the naval authorities be requested to provide the necessary men and appliances for re- ' survey of Rangitoto Channel, and the Board will pay such men's wages and «- Ipensel, and will also provide the neees ; i sary launch and staff for working same. I The Board adopted the recommendation.