A VETERAN SHIPMASTER.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17296, 7 November 1921, Page 6

A VETERAN SHIPMASTER.

CAPTAIN J. WILLS RETIRES. (SPECIAL TO "THE r-BESS.") KAIKOURA, November 5. Captain J. Wills, of tho Wakatu, has retired after over 41 years' service in the Lyttelton-Kaikoura-Wollington trado. He has proved himself a very popular shipping master, and groat regret is felt in the district at his retirement. Captain Wills was in chargo of the Wakatu on her first visit to Lyttelton in 1883. Prior to that he had been in command of several schooners, and also the small steamer Tui. In 1883 Messrs Levin and Company placed the Wakatu on the Wellington-Lyttclton trade, with Captain Wills in charge. In those days there were at least ten places of call along the coast, namely, Motunau, Stoneyhurst, Port Robinson, Boat Harbour (Amuri), Kaikoura, Waipapa, The Flags, Kekerangu, Flaxbournc, and occasionally Capo Campbell. All these places, with tho exception of Kaikoura. wen* worked with surf-boats. At one time, for a period of eighteen months, the Wakatu also included the Peninsula Bays and Akaroa in her itinerary. In later years the extension of the railway service, improved roads, and motor traffic, has robljed the little steamer of much of her trade, and the only place of call now is Kaikoura, with a stop at Boat Harbour once or twice a year to pick up wool. With the exception of a few months, during which time ho had charge of the Kennedy and the Bnden-Powql! in turn on the 'Peninsula trade, Captain Wills has been in continuous charge of the Wakatu. He has never had p. serior.* mishap In surf-boat work, always a risky business, Captain Wills has not had a single accident. Like most old skippers. Captain \vills has a fund of stories and anecdotes of the early days on the coast. One of the best concerns a Dutch barque which the Wakatu sighted one morning standing dangerously close in towards shoalwater at tho mouth of the Clarence River. Caotain Wills altered his course and hailed* tho foreigner, asking him what he was doing so close in. The reply staggered those in the Wakatu, for the Dutchman said he was waiting for the nilot. Further questions elicited the fact that the Dutchman actually thought he was off the Clarence River, New; South Wales, which was his proper destination.