VETERAN SKIPPER

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXII, Issue 11482, 28 July 1934, Page 3

VETERAN SKIPPER

Captain Christopher Faulkner

INTERESTING CAREER

riditv-t'vo years ago )o-day was at Otuiuoetai, Christopher downer son of John Rees Faulkr‘ »ho’came to Tauranga in 1841 m ' t-PDt a store at Otumoetai where traded with the natives, princi”e tK- in maize and native gum. In pall l vears the son Christopher be--12 61 'throughout this and the East and North Auckland districts of the most popular and well°ne „ cidnrers in the employ of the “SrfsLamsWp Company.

When Christopher was a lad there were no other white hoys near the tiome at Otumoetai, so he spent his early childhood with the native boys as playmates. In 18Cl the growing unrest among the natives compelled tfco father to move his family to Auckland, where they remained until the latter part of 1863. He then bought a small vessel and brought the family back to Tauranga and opened a store on the Strand near where Messrs Tanner Bros.’ butchers’ shop now stands. Recently Captain Chris. Faulkner, to he is familiarly known, paid a visit to Tauranga, staying with his nephew, Mr Geo. Faulkner, and to a representative of the Times he had many interesting reminiscences and experiences to relate. Saw. Gate Pa Shelled. One of his clearest recollections as a boy. he said—he would then be twelve years old—was being taken out in the direction of Gate Pa by his father,. in ' company with his brothers Jarvie and Alfred, on that memorable day of April 29th, 1864, and from a small hill just beyond where the hospital is now—presumably on the knoll where Mr Chas. McNaughton’s home stands—watched the shelling of Gate Pa by the British troops. “I remember,” said Captain Faulkner, it was getting towards evening, when "father and I came back to town. About half-an-hour after we got back my two brothers came running in to say that the troops were being slaughtered. My father was just on the point of taking us ail off to one of the man-o-war anchored in the harbour, when word came in that things were all right. We were expecting an attack from the direction of .Judea.” The family remained in’ Tauranga until 1866 and then moved , across again to Otumoetai to the old homestead, but trouble with the natives at Whakamarama shortly afterwards sent them hack to town once more The only Europeans at Otumoetai before the family went to Auckland la ISSI were the Faulkners and Jimmy Fell, who also went to Auckland, but did nonreturn, There were also the Johnsons at Wairoa, Potiers and Bidois at Te Puna. ; - Sea Career Commences. When the trouble at Whakamarama was over, -the family was back once more at Otumoetai. but the first chapter In a somewhat adventurous boyhood was closed, for in 1866 Chris, went to fiea, Put in his own words cntter tLf n !?- Ck t d about in a little cutter that ,his brother used to run letween Tauranga and Maketu.” He w L S 5 e - d in “Jane,” a schoonwbw glng t 0 his {a th6r and tradhig between Auckland and Gisborne, fhen he joined the “Tauranga,” 61 S’n,n t T ai l SOhooner of his fathAucklmnf 10 a between Tauranga and spell re again for a short koned mi a^ ve f. ture on ce more becChatharJ K S oti was hack from the tST and ~t rouble was astir. Chris irw ° a l for v °lunteers and CawiJ ? up w . ith the Tauranga that I^r Under Mawsom. In Cfarke bj s cavalry', Samuel S the nmV heutena nt. He lived was J ic i use 011 the hill which claim into the harbour to rethe site foWh r f llway - and Provided luilri rn.! T he town hall and library cuiant of fh T d^ ta , !ly the last ocwas nnllart p be ° d house before it H. GriS l° Wn WaS the late Mr Jclerk. *° r 80 many years county

Escape from Opepe Massacre. formed [», e a * ter , the troop was sunjmoned embe F s were one day That Tnlnnt 0 parade a nd informed iKSK* tor actea. The 4V, h dire etion of Galaed and \Pora h ° j tro °P volunteer°F dered to proceed to *her e Te £- d n en towards Galatea They u Was givin S trouble. *l, were Tw y camped at Heruwithen ordered a 4°, Ut a mont h and lag there a wa , Gala t ea - After be*>lm and Lim n r * wo Major st - Proceed to Tannb C lt ke> Wlshing to . ordered to S’ the com P an y was of this portfrfn v The rem ainder ser ’s story N the veteran skipit in his ow n w er j ßtine ’ 30 we give Bp ” he said “a °J d T S: —" We formed to carry disDiJj, nd 1 was picked out , I le£t Galafei m Tauran sa. As St John and r !° r *.^ auran sa. Major escort left for t! U ' Clarke and the «ar!y in the ?°' 1 left Galatea 3L cai ae through on horse hack. ? e feko and Matahina hush to track to the s bon followed a pig 1516 Ch !tS \r h ; * then followed ?£ ro ss there and atata ’ was ferrie d which i n 'T ent on t 0 the there had to ford - At ■ I reached Ta.fr another ferry and about f" Sa . , harbour at ®°, rn >ng, S t 4 a “, 0 clock in the fi ode °nt as faT4 T ° W Water and 1 4 red a shot to ,n 1 could then f the ferryman ii Ct Gle attention across }' . He heard me and the message was fv, Ve l no idea what ly Graft afivlf 1 , 1 carried - hut bringip J d a , ter the same who hfd f that Dearly $? d beea massaffL been left behind ar <ls to Tn., tnp Shortly afferf 1! then Tenft W xr b dispatchesremained ab 3ea t to Maketu, where ' So l<liering ° Again ’ yeral trips to the

Islands in a brigantine, he joined his brother-in-law in the old “Southern Cross.’ From her he went to the “Rowena” with Captain Sellars, and then the Northern Steamship Company was formed. His next ship was the “Iona” under Captain Farquhar trading, between Auckland and Northern ports. Trading on the Harbour. Then came another change. The first party of Katikati settlers had arrived, and had to be served, so Captain Chris, left the “Iona” and started running the “Hazard” on his own account between Tauranga and Katikati.' For about eight years he was engaged in this trade and pottering about the harbour, and then he went back to the Northern Company’s employ. In the “Douglas” for about seven months under Captain Austin running to Opotiki, then to the “Chelmsford” on the same run, and later to the "Waiti’’ as mate, again under Captain Norbury. The next change was on promotion, his first command being the “Katikati.” A few months later he transferred to the “Fingall” and had her for about eight years, trading in the Bay. Then he took command of the old “Waimana” running between Auckland and Whakatane, and afterwards went over to the “Mangapapa” on the same run. Five years later found him in command of the “Tasman,” and he had her for ten years, still running to Whakatane. The next change was to the Northern Wairoa, running between Helensville and Dargaville. He was there eight years in command of several of the company’s boats. At the end of that period his boat was laid up, so he decided to leave the Company’s service and retire from the sea. And so ended a long career of activity closely associated with the development and growth of Tauranga and the whole of the Bay of Plenty district.

Married in ISB9, Captain Faulkner made his first home in Opotiki, and has twelve children still living. His home is now in Auckland, but he is at present living with a daughter at Rangitaiki. One of a family of fifteen, the Captain is the only survivor. and on this, his eighty-second birthday, we join with a very wide circle of friends and acquaintances, ashore and afloat, in wishing him still many years of health and contentment in his retirement. When in Tauranga a month or two ago the aged Captain was particularly well, memory excellent, and taking a lively interest in the everyday affairs of life.