DEATH OF CAPT CRAWFORD.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 11, 14 January 1925, Page 9

DEATH OF CAPT CRAWFORD.

• WELL-KNOWN COASTAL SKIPPER. During the eighty years of his life. Captain James Crawford, whoso death is announced to-day, saw just about as much of the coastal trade as any other skipper of his day. He was connected with the Northern Steamship Company in its early days, and it, is rather a coincidence that his death and that of Mr. ( harles Hanson, manager of tho company for many years, should happen within a day of one another. Captain Crawford hurl been retired from tho sea for about, twenty-four years, but like all sailors, nautical things never lost their savour for him. and nt various limes ho would be found acting as assessor at a nautical court of inquiry, superintending the building of a vessel, or in some other capacity requiring knowledge and judgment. Born at Sterling. Scotland, in 154.~>. he came out to New Zealand with his parents in 1R.".9 in tho ship Phoenix. The family settled at Mangapai, near Whangarei, where some of tho family are still living on tho old farm. Young Crawford, who was fourteen years of age, did not banker after the land, however, and when he was seventeen years of ago he achieved the wish of his life and wont to sea. His instinct was true, for bo was a born sailor, and right up to the end of his long life he never lost the love of salt water. His first voyage was to London, and then he voyaged to all parts of the world. After he had finished his apprenticeship and had got his ticket, ho returned to Now Zealand and joined the Northern Steamship Company. Ho was first in the lona, one of tho first steamers of (ho fleet, and then in the Argyle. of which ho was captain. The company was founded by a fellow-countryman of Captain Crawford, a fine old seaman named Captain McGregor, who named all the boats after Scotch places. When the famous seamen's strike was on, a company in opposition to the Xorthorn Company started. They bought the steamer Waitaki from the Cnion Company, and put her on the trade between Auckland and the northern ports. Captat in Crawford being one of the most popular men on the coast was induced to take charge of the new venture, which, however, did not last more than a Sew months. His next employ was in the ferry company started by a Mr. Quick in opposition to the Devonport Ferry Company, the boats being the Eagle and the Osprev. This was also a. rather short-lived concern, the boats being eventually absorbed by the Devonport Ferry Company. In ISS9 Captain Crawford joined the Stormbird, which was run in opposition to the Cnion Company as a result of a seamen"s strike. When the Stormbird was withdrawn from this coast Captain Crawford went, to Wellington with her and for some years he was engaged in the trade between Wellington and Wanganui. the boats employed being the Huia and tho Stormbird! He was just as well known and popular on that run as bo was in the Auckland trade, anrl he had a groat reputation in connection with quick work in the days when the big steamers anchored off shore in the roadstead and the frozen moat and wool were lightered nff, the lighters being towed out by steamer. About twenty-four years ago Captain Crawford retired and since then has been living with a son at Mount Eden, Auckland. Surviving the Captain are two sons. Mr. J. R. Crawford, of Wellington, and Mr. E. Crawford, of Mount Eden, and one daughter, Mrs. W. F. Wallis. of Morrinsville.