THE LATE CAPTAIN J. J. HANSBY.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7382, 7 August 1889, Page 4

THE LATE CAPTAIN J. J. HANSBY.

With the first visit to these waters of the Ellis steamer Duplet—, last month, *c saw an old face in her commander, Captain John James Hansby, and we welcomed him, and now with the completion of her first round voyage to Sydney we hear with regret of his sudden iecease. The new_ reached Lyttelton resterday, and quite a gloom was cast i aver the habitues of the Port. Although It wanted some twenty minutes to sundown, when the bunting on tbe steamers is stowed away, yet It waa very noticeable the R«>__Pt manner in which all the.Union Company's steamers in port pam their last token of respect to an old commander [n their service, a man who was respected In his vicissitudes in life by aIL It was some eleven years ago when the a.9- **?"? _ras running between Sydney and this Polony, under command of Captain A. Kennedy, -we came across the late Captain, Whowaa then chief officer ot the venal*

and, as a strange coincidence, Captain was engaged aa commander of the U.S.S. Company's boat Hauroto, running iv opposition to Captain Hansby*a vessel, and was in Sydney at the time of his old chief officer's death. Captain Hansbv was afterwardchief of the 5.3. Hawea with Captain Kennedy, his .first command in the ; Union Company's employ being the s.s. Waitaki, then the s.s. Wanaka.! It is in the s.s. Hawea, which steamer he commanded for some four years, that he was more intimately connected with the Port of Lyttelton, and it was the pleasure of the holiday seekers to the port On two past New Year's Days to be received by Captain Hansby on board the s.s. Hkwea, which vessel was flagship. For the deceased master's courteous behaviour aid kindly manner on those occasions he made the recipient of a handsome gold locket by the Regatta Committee, which he wore with pride up to tbe time of 'his untimely death. Captain Hansby, we understand, is a married man, but leave} no family.