SHIP’S MASTER FOR 25 YEARS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26205, 31 August 1950, Page 2

SHIP’S MASTER FOR 25 YEARS

CAPTAIN G. KINNELL

41 YEARS WITH N.Z. SHIPPING COMPANY

Captain G. Kinnell, 0.8. E., of the New Zealand Shipping Company’s linei* Rangitata, now at Lyttelton, on Monday completed 25 years as a master in the company’s service. Captain Kinnell began his seafaring career as a cadet in the training ship Worcester in 1909. In August, 1911 he signed on the New Zealand Shipping Company’s ship Opawa as an apprentice and has remained in the service of the company since then. He continued his training in the Whakatane and the Kaipara. Obtaining his second mate’k certificate in 1914, he served as a junior officer in the Ruahine Otakf, and Rimutaka. He passed for nis first mate’s certificate in 1916, and was appointed second officer of the Opawa. After serving in a similar

capacity in the Somerset and the Hern uera he obtained his master’s ticket in 1920, and was promoted to chief officer in the Ruapehu. After four years in the Ruapehu he served for a time in the Northumberland. On October 28, 1925, Captain Kinnell was appointed to the command of the Piako, and has successively commandded the cadet ship Devon (four years), the Ruahine (eight years), the Rotorua, Otaio. Rimutaka, Northumberland, Duiham, and his present ship, the Rangitata. He has commanded the Rangitata for the last five years. With the retirement last year of Captain E. A. Holland, Captain Kinnell became the commodore of the company. Asked about his war experiences, Captain Kinnell said he was very lucky in the first war. In the second war he was in command of the Otaio when she was torpedoed and sunk in the North Atlantic. V/hen a reporter called on Captain Kinnell aboard the Rangitata yesterday morning he had just opened a letter from the Meteorlogical Office of the Air Ministry, London. The letter informed him that, in recognition of his 31 years as a voluntary marine observer for the office, he had been selected for a special award of an inscribed barograph. It -was hoped to present him with the barograph on his return to London.

In recognition of his war services. Captain Kinnell was invested, in 1046, with the Order of the British Empire. Captain Kinnell expressed pleasure at being back in Canterbury after an absence of three years. He had renewed many long-standing friendships. He said he was almost a New Zealander now, having two brothers and other relatives farming in the North Island.

“During the time the Rangitata was being reconditioned I tool: a busman’s holiday,” said Captain Kinnell. “I brought my wife out for a trip to New Zealand. We were both charmed with the country and its hospitality.”