OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 236, 4 October 1940, Page 4

OBITUARY.

. i ! MR. G. W. W. COZENS. The death has occurred in Adelaide, ! South Australia, of Mr. G. W. W. Cozens, aged 63. He was the eldest son of an old and well-known Auckland resident, Mr. George Cozens, who for many yeare was business manager for Captain W. C. Daldy. While still in his teens, Mr. G. W. W. Cozens went to sea with the late Captain Ross, and shortly afterwards entered the employ of the island firm of John T. Arundel and Co. In 1900 he was transferred j from Baker Island, and was one of the | pioneer staff of the Paciiic Islands Co.! that commenced operations ac Ocean Island. Mr. Cozens was employed in the mooring department under Captain Theet, now living at Oratia, and when the'latter was appointed manager at Nauru in 1907 Mr. Cozens was promoted to the position of mooring superintendent at Ocean Island, his duties extending also to Nauru from time to time. He was in this responsible position when the interests in the two islarfds were, taken over by the United Kingdom, Australian and N.Z. Government in 1920, and remained in the island service until his retirement a few years back. He brought the mooring system at both islands to a remarkable degree of efficiency—a difficult matter, seeing they have the distinction of being the. deepest moorings in the world, being laid in 200 fathom** (1200 feet). yhe special equipment required for thte work was installed on two of the commission's vessels under Mr. Cozens' supervision, and he designed and laid the first set of moorings used in connection with the Nauru cantilever. . Mr. Cozens frequently visited Auckland. He was well known in athletic circles, particularly in connection with swimming and diving exhibitions. At the islands his prowess in this respect often proved most useful in carrying out his duties. Even the Gilbert and Ellice natives, employed at Ocean Island as boatmen, and who are noted for their skill in the difficult surf conditions of coral islands, looked on Mr. Cozens as being a master hand, and were eager to learn from him. Mr. Cozens is survived by his wife, now living in Adelaide, and a son in Sydney. *