Former chief sea scout, lifeboat captain dies

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32536, 20 February 1971, Page 18

Former chief sea scout, lifeboat captain dies

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Feb. 19.

Mr Joseph Samuel Hines, who was New Zealand’s first chief sea scout, and a former naval commander and

naval reservist who worked for the British Secret Service and commanded convoys through the English Channel in the First World War, died yesterday at Trentham, aged 88.

During a long naval career, and in subsequent work as captain of the Sumner lifeboat, Mr Hines saved 82 lives at sea.

In more recent years he was employed on the permanent staff of the Wellington Racing Club at Trentham on jobs ranging from the superintendent to the groundsman. Born in Redcliffs, Christchurch, in 1882, Mr Hines was educated at Redcliffs Primary School and Greenwich Naval College. He worked for the Secret Service in Britain, and after service in the First World War, rose to the rank of commander.

On his return to New Zealand in 1920 he was appointed the first chief sea scout. He stood down from this post for Earl Jellicoe on his arrival as GovernorGeneral of New Zealand. He also served as a pilot in Lyttelton, and for 25 years was a member of the Sumner Life Boat Institute, and was captain of the boat for 13 years. He was also a member of the Volunteer Fire Brigade, the Masonic Lodge, and the Druids Friendly Society. He was also a good rifle shot at N.R.A. meetings.