"BURGEE" ALOFT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 130, 4 June 1930, Page 10

"BURGEE" ALOFT.

LINER TAINUI IN PORT.

COMMODORE'S FLAG FLYING,

CAPTAIN CLIFTON-MOGG'S CAREER

In common with all other vessels in port, the Shaw, Savill and Albion liner Tainui, when she arrived in Auckland from England yesterday, was gaily -"dressed 5 ! in honour of the King's birthday, but conspicuous among the bunting was the "swallow-tailed" house flag of the company, which is the fleet commodore's "burgee" in the merchant navy.

The Tainui, which bears a name hallowed in Maori history, is making its fiftieth voyage to New Zealand, and her commander is Captain W. P. Clifton-Mogg, R.N.R., who, by warrant, flies the Blue Ensign of the Royal Naval Reserve on his ship instead of the familiar "Red Duster." As senior commander, and therefore commodore of the company's fleet, it is interesting to record that Captain Clifton-Mogg served his apprenticeship with the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company,. and has! spent the whole of his sea-going career of 31 years in the merchant' navy in its ships.

The veteran skipper made his first voyage as a boy- in 1898 in the once well-known ship Westland. After serving four years' apprenticeship in that vessel, and securing his second mate's .certificate, he was for a time fourth officer in the steamer Aotea. Then, keen on "getting his time in" for a mate's ticket, he joined the clipper ship Wellington in 1903, as second mate. Commanded by the late Captain Thomas during that, her last, voyage under the British flag, and the company's house flag, the Wellington, left Lyttelton in February, 1904, with a cargo of wool for London. She made the passage in the fast time of 75 days to the Chan-nel,-and 77 days to London. She was then sold to Norwegian buyers. In 1906 her sea career was ended when she was abandoned in a sinking condition on a voyage from the Gulf of Mexico to Rosario. Record of Service.

Captain Clifton-Mogg was given his first command in 1908 after serving as second and chief officer in several of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company's

steamers. His' rise was made in the quick time of ten years, and was indicative of his energy and industry in his chosen career. He took charge of the second Matatua for half a voyage, and then exchanged commands with the late Captain W. Burrill-Holmes, of the first Karamea.He retained command of the latter vessel until August, 1914, when, as. a lieutenant of the Royal Naval Reserve, he was called up for active service. Captain Clifton-Mogg was then appointed navigating officer of the auxiliary cruiser Orotava, an ex-Orient-Royal mail liner, in the famous Tenth Cruiser Squadron, which maintained the blockade against Germany. He served in the H.M.s. Orotava till 1917, when, at the request of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, 'he was released by the Admiralty to take command of the transport Waimana, in which he remained. till after the termination of the war.

In February, 1920, Captain CliftonMogg was appointed to the new steamer Otira, when she was taken over from the builders. After making a' number of voyages in the Otira, he was appointed in 1924 to command the Pakeha. He remained in her for five years, and then succeeded to the command of the Tainui. Since his latter appointment he has made three voyages to Netv Zealand, but has not touched at Auckland, a port with which he is very familiar. Captain Clifton-Mogg has a very live interest in New Zealand, as some years before the war he married a daughter of Mr. W. J. Stringleman, who was for many years district traffic manager of the Railway Department at Christchurch.

"I Have Been Lucky." ■In a chat about his career aboard the Tainui this morning, Captain CliftonMogg recalled that he has been voyaging to New Zealand ever since '98, and yet he has not had any outstanding experiences on the high seas. "I have been very lucky," he said, "I have never been shipwrecked, and during the war, while I worked from. Iceland to the Falkland Islands, I did not see so much as a submarine. I often feel that I have missed quite a lot when I hear others.tell of their experiences."

Questioned as to the roughest passage he had had during his 32 years at sea, Captain Clifton-Mogg said that the, worst weather, he ever encountered was in the . English Channel last • December. Heavy seas broke over the Tainui and she received a lively buffeting. For four days the vessel averaged only eight knots. The severity of the storm could be gauged from the fact that 21 ships were reported at Lloyd's as being in dis-

tress. The Tainui behaved excellently and came through the storm remarbbly well and undamaged.

Veteran Chief Engineer. As the flagship of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company's fleet the Tainui has the further distinction of carrying the company's, senior chief engineer, Mr. George Arthur, who has been in the service of the line for 45 years. He joined the first Arawa as fifth engineer in ISS4, and three and a half years later was appointed chief engineer of the first Tainui. Thus Mr. Arthur has been chieJ engineer in the company's service lot over forty years, and has probably .tin longest record of service in that capacity in the world. His is a remarkable record, as it covers practically the whole period of direct steamer connection between New Zealand and England, as well a» the whole growth of "the frozen meat trade. He is to-day the sole survivor of those who manned the engine-rooms of the New Zealand liners of the 'eighties. \ ■ Another officer on the Tainui with * long' record of service in trading to the Dominion is the purser, Mr. C. J. Hobden., He has been vovaging to New Zealand for 30 years, though recently he just completed two years in the Australian service of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company.