OLD TRADER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 150, 28 June 1939, Page 14

OLD TRADER.

DOYEN OF PACIFIC.

DEATH OF CAPTAIN ROSS

ADVENTUROUS DAYS IN SAIL

Doypn .if ilm n-rt.liii-.' Mor.i - ~f ,!,,.■ Sout.h Par.iiir, i'H|.tnin Willi.im ,„,, "f (Hp few r.Mii.iuiiii- link- with the pic tiii-pw|i,,. r..,.r.« ..t niilinsr >wpN nn.l ,ril "'l «•>'■-. ■Iμ-! tins .....rniiu, »[|,. r a *li-rf iMtt-.-o. in hi, ]~,,„„ ~, f ; rca , Smith Ronil. Aiifklnml. S|l ' V ' '"'- "' ' M'cripnrp in thr ~"'"" ' ■" lLr i*y I'fl-.inil C.'.iptnin Ross /■■ irn.lcl hPtwpnn Vuoklnnd nml Slur Mn.i.l i,, .h, url , k , mvn ~,,„ ,„•„,, '■' ''"'' ,nr -*' unl.rohPii \ o.iiv without V'K ,,, iiii'liiii Tin. V-,il,r| vvpul int.. "'" S "',. Miiii.l tni.lr Ht a time- when """•' " f '!'«■ i-lHii.l-. trail,, hail horn t urn.'.l to Siiiiuni mill Sydney, and ns n i-p.iili nf h|.« piTnrtM it was "ili\prtPfl tn An.kl.in.l. Ho ilßve:ii|M. f | a v«l,ml»li' cnnili'cl ion. (tiptiiin Rr«M" «rltft>turP4 m the South I'iifilii' lipcnn omt mi j Nr , ujl ,, llll( | ]lis | \n_vnyim f\tcn<l(.il n\cr mnh H «ifli« arpii thHt ho c\ pnt inilly iiecttmp known (if "Tlip ll"V'ii of the S.-utli I'lii-itir "• Wlion hi« rn\ Miy* hfiiiri lip wa« ,i »tiilr>r on h trarlintr \pn«el, purninv. £» » ninntli. but hi* h(iilii« sriKlun.'lv roup until in IHS.J he piitcrcil the Nine Fmlhiiil Iμrte, whirh lip iiu. intii inpil for 2.1 voara. Maintained Unbroken Service. Diiriii)! his |piiod of trade between Aii"klnnrl unci Slun Ihlhihl, h number of (invprnnient nttempte wore ruacle to otarl ii similiir nervicc, but all of these failed. The Wdbel, though i lie \va« not siil.fiiliacd, was alilp to maintain the eeniu' unbroken and make a stiiinll pro|i( Ah n I'enult of thr direct ser\icp, many of the N'iuu peo|.le had their rliilrlrcn educated in Auckland and sorno of them eventually entered business here. Muph of Captain Rjse' punce** in this venture iniiot l.« attributed to his outstnndinjr knowledge nf local conditions, for Nine, which hud no harbour, required very rarpful working by nio-ru ere. The London .Miseioniiry Society lost two ships there, tlin two Auckland trading whips Kan and Awautii were wrecked, nnil two other sailing eliips in the trade disappeared.

When he first visited Samoa, over 60 your* us". Captain Rons drove several head of cattle from Apin to Fanitoouta, piissinp on the wtiy through two opposing armies of the Snmoanx, who were engaged in ono of their periodical struggles to settle who should be king. Hoisted the British Flag. The tiles of the "Auckland Star" of July, 1010, recorded the part played by Captain Roan in negotiating for the purchasu of the premises and stocks of Oermnn flrme operating in the Tongan Group. Gorman firms at that time were experiencing great difficulty in obtaining imports of goods, and consequently wero forced to sell out to Captain Roes and Mr. A. Tyndall, of Auckland. The deal accomplished by Captain Rose and his partner included the purchase of the premise* owned by the bij» German Him of D.H. and P.O. at Ha apa i, Vavau, Niuafoou. and Niuatoputalm, and, of course, the out-stations of the firm. Figures in the purchase were not revealed, but it was stated at the time that a cheque for some thousands of pounds was drawn to cover the transaction. At this time purchase of German firms and stock was taking place all over the Islands, and Captain Ross* deal made trade there practically all British.

On July 24, HMO, Captain Rose hoisted the British flag at Haapai, and the toast "that the flag of the Empire just hoisted would never come down" was drunk by British residents. This ceremony, it was stated, marked the end of Oermnn commerce in Tonga, their last post in the Pacific. In September, 1033, Captain Ross was elected an honorary life member of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. It was said by the commodore, Mr. J., H. Frater, that no one deserved the honour better than Captain Rose. Although he had not been actively engaged in the cliiliV management, he had always sup* ported the squadron and had been closely associated with the shipping interest* of Auckland for over 60 years. Last Public Appearance. Captain Ross would have celebrated his witth birthday had he lived until July 21. Active till a short time before hi* death, he was looking forward to the Centennial celebrations next year. Him hiHt public appearance was made at ' the iniiiuitl presentation of prizes of the I Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron early this month, when both the commodore, Mr.' H. J. C. George, and the Governor-General, Lord Gafway, made I reference to tiie presence of the squad-1 ron's distinguished life member. A member for many vears of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta Committee, he served uh chairman and vicechalrnian during the war \earn. | In hie retirement, Captain Ross was I an enthusiastic motorist, Hu Is survived I by his wife, who lives tit -2U, Great South ! Rnafl, two »onn mill three (laughter*. The ' Interment will ho held at I'urcwa on' Friday at 2 p.m. ,