Engineering links with Lyttelton

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32958, 3 July 1972, Page 11

Engineering links with Lyttelton

SHIPPING NEWS

A 76-year-old St Martins resident, Mr A. O. Ward, who has spent all his working life in engineering, has long links with Lyttelton and as director of a prominent engineering firm still takes an active interest in the port. This agile and mentally alert Gallipoli veteran was educated at Christ’s College. Leaving school, he served an engineering apprenticeship in Christchurch. His career was interrupted by the First World War and after Gallipoli service he was In France with the artillery and also served as a dispatch rider with divisional signals. For a period he was with the army of occupation in Germany after the war. About once a week Mr Ward visits Lyttelton and keeps in touch both socially and professionally with former colleagues and friends. His grandfather was a Customs officer in the port in the 1860 s, so his ties are strong. In his professional life, Mr Ward has seen major engineering changes and also working conditions. He has worked on every kind of engineering job, even on sailing vessels. These were the large American schooner H. K. Hall and the French vessel Louis Thierault. He also participated as an employee in the building of the former coal grab plant on the breakwater. He has worked on passenger liners, cargo vessels, coastal vessels, dredges, harbour craft, minesweepers and so on. During the Second World War, hours were long—often exhausting and pressures and demands were heavy. Vital work had to be done, Mr Ward said. On one occasion during a rush job, he started work early on Monday morning and did not get home in Christchurch until after midnight on Wednesday. However, there were other occasions when he and others went for 48 hours without sleep. It was wartime and the work had to be done, h After' the Second World War, Mr Ward was one who worked on a major repair job aboard the British vessel Port Campbell at Lyttelton. Mr Ward said that for 12 weeks they worked seven days a week, every day until 10 p.m. It was exhausting for all, he said. Conditions were utterly different from today and so, of course, were wages, Mr Ward said. , ~ . In winter time men ate their lunches trying to get warm round the blacksmith’s forge in the engineering shop, Mr Ward said. Engineering had vastly altered since he began and huge technological advances had been made, Mr Ward said. Today, at St Martins, he has a workshop and lathe and still likes to tinker away. Mr Ward’s recipe for longevity and activity can be summed up by hard work, interest in the job and a sense of humour. He looks many years younger than his age.

ARRIVALS Saturday Rangatira (6.45 a.m.), 9387, Capt. R. E. Pugh-Williams, Wellington (U.S.S.). Sunday Rangatira (6.45 a.m.), 9387, Capt. R. E. Pugh-Williams, Wellington (U.S.S.). ■ Holmlea (7.26 a.m.), 1106, Capt. D. Henigan, Wellington (U.S.S.). Haparangi (7.35 a.m.), Capt. P. Lay, Nelson (P and O (N.Z.). Ltd). „ L „ Tawanui (9 a.m.), 891, Capt. N.

G. Woollett, Auckland (N.S.S.). (Docks). Ontario (11.37 a.m.), 6595, Whangarei (Seatrans).

DEPARTURES Saturday Rangatira (9.39 a.m.), 9387, Capt. R. E. Pugh-Williams, Wellington (U.S.S.). (Daylight). Holmburn (9.46 a.m.), 845, Capt. H. C. F. Hunt, Onehunga (U.S.S.). Cedric (5.16 p.m.), 11,232, Capt. I. C. Condie, Napier (S.S. and A.).

Sunday Rangatira (9.4 p.m.), 9387, Capt. R. E. Pugh-Williams, Wellington (U.S.S.).

EXPECTED ARRIVALS Hawea, Auckland, today. Rangatira, Wellington, July 4. Neder Llnge, Napier, July 4. Athelviscount, Marsden Point,

July 4. Parera, Napier, July 6. Teesta, Wellington, July 6. Woosune, Wellington, July 6. Katea, Tauranga, July 7. Maheno, Wellington, July 7. Kawerau, Tauranga, July 7. Straat Lagos, Wellington, July 7. Mirrabooka, Wellington, July 7. Springbank, —, July 10. Tientsin Dunedin, July 11. Antios, Adelaide, July 13. Regent Fleur, Moji, July 14. Rockhampton Star, Wellington, July 14. Canterbury Star, Wellington, July 15. Essen, New Plymouth, July 17. Hupeh, Nelson. July 18. Straat Chatham, Wellington, July 18. Straat Luzon, Wellington, July 19. Cumberland, Wellington, July 20. Loire Lloyd, Wellington, July 20. Gladstone Star. Wellington, July Kaitoke, New Plymouth, July 22. Waikare. Melbourne, July 24. Lorena, Rarotonga, July 24. Frubel Europa, Bluff, July 26.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES Ontario, Melbourne, today.

Treneglos, Napier, today. Holmlea, Wellington, today. Rangatira, Wellington, July 4. (Daylight.) Athelviscount, Timaru, July 5. Tawanui, Bluff. July 5. Hawea, Auckland, July 5. Haparangi, Timaru, July 5. Neder Linge, Timaru, July 5. Parera, Dunedin, July 6. Maheno, Sydney, July 7. Springbank, Napier July 7. Katea, Dunedin, July 8. Teesta, Napier July 8. Kawerau, Dunedin, July 8. Woosung, Napier, July 8. Straat Lagos, Dunedin, July 11. Mirrabooka. Gothenburg, July 12. Tientsin, Wellington, July 13. Antios, Venezuela, July 13. Regent Fleur, Bluff, July 15. Canterbury Star, Bluff, July 17. Hupeh. Auckland. July 19. Rockhampton Star, Dunedin, July 19. Essen, Dunedin, July 19. Straat Chatham, Tauranga, July 20. Loire Lloyd, Bluff, July 21. Straat Luzon, Dunedin, July 21. Cumberland, Port Chalmers,

July 22. Tientsin, Dunedin, July 22. Waikare. Auckland. July 26. Lorena, Auckland, July 26. Gladstone Star, Dunedin, July 26. Kaitoke, Dunedin, July 27. Frubel Europa. Napier, July 28.

VESSELS IN PORT Haparangi, No. 1 Cashin Quay. Treneglos, G.P.E. Ontario, No. 2 East. Holmlea, No. 2 West.

Tawanui, No. 4 West. Ranganul, No. 5 East (survey).