OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 126, 29 May 1936, Page 14

OBITUARY.

MR. GEORGE ROUT. The death occurred with unexpected suddenness in a private hospital on Wednesday of Mr. George Rout, of 14, j Desmond Terrace, Mount Albert, and his I passing removes a well-known and popular figure on the waterfront. Mr. Rout, who was 77 years of age, was for 35 years a steward with the Northern Steamship Company, and served on the steamers Wellington, Clansman, Waiotahi, Chelmsford, Glenelg, Kia Ora, Wakatere and Apanui. He was chief steward for most of that time, and his last ship was the Rimu. When that vessel laid up, to use Mr. Rout's own 'expression he "laid up too." Mr. Rout's boyhood days were spent in Hampshire, where his first job was in the employ of an earl as a coachman's assistant. He came to New Zealand 02 years ago in the famous sailing ship Loc'li Awe, which made the fastest voyage ever made by a sailing ves?el between England and New Zealand. The Loch Awe left Gravesend on April 0, 1874, with 309 immigrants, under the command of Captain Weir. Favoured by steady winds the vessel crossed the equator on April 30 and the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope on May 22. Australia was reached on June 8, and though a storm was encountered off the Tasmanian coast good progress was still maintained, with the result that shortly after mid-day on June 19 the Three l Kings were sighted. The actual passage I from land to land was thus made in i the unprecedented time of 09 days 4 hours. Southerly winds were experi- ! enced down the coast to Auckland Har- | hour, which was reached 70 days 0 hours ; after leaving Gravesend, a time nevc«r before approached by any vessel. There was considerable delay in passing the passengers by the Customs at Auckland, for the arrival of the Loch Awe was completely unexpected. Indeed, her 1 papers, which had been sent from LouI don some six weeks before the vesssl ! sailed, had not arrived. | Mr. Rout made his first home in AuckI land in a cottage at Clyde Street, PonI sonby. In the years of his retirement he has lived at Mount Albert, where he , | pursued his principal hobby of garde-i----ing. He was a frequent visitor to the city, and only last week he was chatting j with some of his friends. He then j suffered a stroke, and passed away i ! peacefully last evening, _ after having ' regained con/ciousness and recognising . his family. I Mr. Rout is survived by his widow, 1 two daughters, Mrs. E. Rainey . (Te Awamutu) and Mrs. E. Smythe (Mount < Albert), and two sons, Mr. L. Rout J (Mount Albert) and Mr. E. R. Rout - (Dunedin). i