OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23477, 4 November 1941, Page 8

OBITUARY

—♦ — CAPTAIN A. I. MURRAY

(P.S.S.) DUNEDIN, November 3, Captain Alexander Innes Murray, who died to-day in his eighty-second year, was prominently associated with shipping from Dunedin's early sailing ship days. He was chief male of the sailing ship Dunedin when she carried the first shipment of frozen meat from New Zealand to Great Britain. Born in Aberdeen he came to Dunedin with, his mother when he was about 15 years of age, but returned to Aberdeen and there took a post on the Larcadia, which was run by Nicol and Sons, and rose to the position of chief mate. He served in the Dunedin as - chief mate, and then in 1890 he was entrusted with the largest ship in the Shaw Savill and Albion Company's fleet. the barque Akaroa, of 1298 tons. At this time he was the youngest master in the Shaw Savill service. On his first visit to New Zealand as a master Captain Murray brought the Akaroa out from home in 95 • days, leaving London in December, 1890, and arriving in New Zealand waters in the second *week in March of the following year. He retained command of the Akaroa for eight years, and then decided to retire from deep sea sailing. He relinquished his command at Port Chalmers, and went to Lyttelton to live there.

Captain Murray commanded several coastal vessels, the best known of which was the Cygnet. He had a financial interest .in coastal shipping at that time. About 18 years ago he decided to retire from active sailing, but he accepted relieving positions in the coastal trade for about eight years afterwards.

Captain Murray’s wife came from his home town, and he was accompanied by her on most of his voyages in the early days. Apart from his sailing associations, he was well known as a keen and skilful cricketer, particularly in Canterbury. Captain Murray is survived by his wife, three sons, and two _ daughters. The sons are Messrs Alexa'nder Murray and James Murray (Dunedin), and Ross Murray. (Hororata), and the daughters are Mrs R. S. Black (Dunedin), and Mrs Peter McDougall (Waiau, North Canterbury).