LOSS BY DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 155, 4 July 1938, Page 4

LOSS BY DEATH.

VETERAN MASTER.

ONEHUNGA RESIDENT.

'CAPTAIN R. H. GIBBONS. The death of Captain Robert Hum Gibbon* has occurred at his residence, (Quadrant Road. Onehimga. For 24 years he was harbourmaster at Oneiiimga, retiring live years ago. Captain Gibbons was born at Onehunga in 1804. His father, Mr. John <;ibbons, was a pioneer of Onehunga. having brought his family from Nova Scotia in his own vessel. Part of the cargo was a complete sawmilling plant, which was erected at the Huia.

On the discovery of gold at the Thames in 1807 Mr. John Gibbons established the niwt sawmill on the goldfield, removing his family to the Thames, where Mr. Hubert Gibbons was educated. At the age of 14 he went to se<v on coastal vessels, also in the Thames Kiver trade, and as a boy on the Northern Company's Kotomahana, of which he was later master. Captain Gibbons served four years in the mission schooner Southern Cross, the late Bishop John Selwyn travelling in the vessel.

Captain Gibbons' first command was the Thames River steamer Patiki and late Tte Aroha. owned by a Thames comjmny. In 1888 he joined the Northern

Company as mate of the s.b. Wellington and later commanded the steamers Rotomabana, Ohinemuri, Clansman, Aupori, Apanui and Ngapuhi. In 1909 he was appointed harbourmaster et Onehunga.

For many years Captain Gibbons was a prominent member of the Thames Old Boys' Association and a regular attender at all their reunions. He was also a past master of the Manukau Masonic Lodge, one of the founders and past president of the Onehunga Orphans' Club, and a member of several other local clubs. He was married in 1890 and leaves a widow and one son, Mr. J. S. Gibbons.

The funeral will take place at 2 p.m to-morrow at the Hilteboro' Cemetery overlooking the Manukau Harbour.