25 YEARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 127, 1 June 1938, Page 8

25 YEARS.

IN LINER NIAGARA.

CHIEF ELECTRICIAN.

NEARLY 2,000,000 MILES,

Short, broad-shouldered, fair-haired "J ne'<' Bam-bury probably knows the Cannlian Australasian liner Niagara hotter llian any other man. And he ought to —-ho has served in her 0011timiously for nearly 2't yearn and travelled the best part of two million miles. An accomplishment to be proud of and probably a world'* record, particularly as he has been at sea since a boy and never been beyond the confines of the broad Pacific. He is the ship's chief ■olc/trieian. Just out of his apprenticeship with a Sydney firm of electrical contractors, Mr. Bambury saw the Niagara, "the pride of the Pacific," steam into Sydney Harbour on her first voyage. He admired lier lines and size and was delighted when, on a subsequent visit to the pott, he was sent by his employers to do some work aboard her. He discovered there was a vacancy for a second electrician, so when the Niagara set out again for Canada he went with her. That was in October. 1913. Except for occasional shore vacations, when a few trips were missed, ha has remained aboard. That first voyage was probably the most memorable Mr. Bambury has made, and he has completed something like 130 round trips. Two days out of Victoria, 8.C., and bound for Australia, the ship ran into a storm of great violence, when huge seas loomed high over the bridge. The Niagara rolled frigliteningly at times, and Mr. Bambury, who has never ■been seasick, sometimes wished that he could be. With the seaworthiness that has characterised her career, the ship rode out the storm, which was the worst in Mr. Bamburv's 25 years' experience. Never Disabled. In his cabin high up on the after end of the boat dcck, he spoke of the Niagara this morning with a pardonable pride. He paid tribute to her qualities in a seaway and to the good fortune which has never deserted her. Not once, he said, has she been disabled, and the worst mishap in her life was when she laid up in Vancouver for a fortnight about three years ago after being hit in a collision during log by the King Egbert. Although the King Egbert hit the Niagara on the port bow close to the sailors' quarters, no one was injured.

In the war years, the "lucky" Niagara maintained service without disaster. All manner \of precautions were taken. A continual zig-zag course was followed, all lights were covered at night, and the ship's company and passengers weire in constant danger of collision. Happily for the Niagara, which accomplished a great'deal of good in transporting supplies across f the Pacific, an enemy submarine or warship was not sighted once, or, at least, recognised as such. Ships that were sighted did not disclose their identities. Rammed a Whale. One unexpected interlude- in those times was when, in mid-Pacific, a whale was rammed. Despite the helm, the vessel began to sheer off course and it was at first thought \bj those aboard that a propeller has been cast off. The engines were stopped. A passenger who happened to be on the fo'c'slehead, however, noticed a black shadowy bulk under tha bows and shouted the news that the Niagara had rammed a submarine! By backing the Niagara disengaged the unwanted encumbrance and way was resumed. On that voyage, New Zealand's war-time Prime Minister, Mr. Massey, was a passenger. Naturally, in 25 years a sliip sees many strange occurrences, yet in her career, the Niagara has had few untoward experiences, although she has more than once picked up mariners castaway by wreck and fire, and sent medical aid to other smaller craft in distress. Only twice has she been diverted from her customary Sydney-Vancouver, run, once to take in oil fuel at Seattle during a labour dispute, and once to make a short cruise to Lord Howe Island. So well does he know the ship, Mr. Bambury could find his way to any part of her blindfolded. When it is realised he has some 2000 lights, 350 electric fans and 70 motors under his care, it is seen he has to be about the vessel a great deal. On an average about 500 electric light bulbs have to be replaced every trip. Regarding the vessel as his home, Mr. Bambury is not anxious to leave her after all these years, and he hopes to be on her last voyage in the run.