SHIPPING NEWS A FRIEND OF SEAFARERS

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33066, 6 November 1972, Page 19

SHIPPING NEWS A FRIEND OF SEAFARERS

After year* of dealing with people in many walk* of life, a former schoolteacher from Cambridge (New Zealand) ha* found a useful and satisfying role at Lyttelton. He is Mr J. E. M. ("John") Ball, who was born in the Indian town of Dhariwal, near Lahore, more than 60 years ago.

His birthplace was noted for its woollen industry, Mr Ball said. But Mr Ball and his wife, who reside at the Canterbury Merchant Centre of the British Sailors’ Society, now give most of their time to seafaring visitors. They enjoy it. When Mr Ball was only eight years old, he was taken to Britain and sent to school in Surrey. But in 1920 he came to New Zealand with his family, and was enrolled at Christ’s College as a pupil. His father and uncle originally intended to found a woollen mill in this country, but dropped their plans. After leaving school, Mr Ball attended the University of Canterbury with the intention of becoming a doctor, but, instead, became a schoolteacher and first taught at Waihi School, near Winchester, South Canterbury. He travelled to Britain on the Jervis Bay, and taught school there to broaden his experience.

In 1941, he enrolled as a gunner in the Royal Artillery, serving In the Middle East, Germany, and later Berlin itself with the occupation forces. He attained the rank of major.

Demobbed in 1946, he returned to New Zealand to a teaching post at St Peter’s School ia Cambridge. He also got married here. After 18 years at St Peter’s School, Mr Ball and his wife made a change, and managed motels in the North Island. They came south and managed Te Wai Pounamu Maori Girls’ Hostel for a year. A year ago, Mr Ball was appointed superintendent of the Merchant Navy Centre at Lyttelton—a full time job. Mr Ball regularly visits ships In port. Because of his early years in India, he has a small understanding of Indian words. He finds all seafarers, no matter what colour, class, or creed, invariably friendly. Many of them visit the centre where they can always receive a friendly welcome. The work is fascinating, he finds. Every day is different, and every ship, unless a previous caller, is a new challenge. Seamen sometimes bring their problems to Mr Ball and because of his wide experience and liking for people, he can often help them. Mrs Ball is no stranger to other races, and is a great asset at the centre. A former Londoner, but of Scottish descent, she lived many years in China when younger because her father was in business in Shanghai. Therefore, she does not feel other than at home with

Singaporeans, Hong Kong, or Taiwan Chinese, or other races. Mr Ball could have continued schoolteaching, but felt that there were other, broader, and possibly more interesting, fields. He and his wife like the sea and the ships and the people who man them. They find Lyttelton a friendly place to live, and have no regrets at all about their move. ARRIVALS Saturday Rangatira (6.33 a.m.), 9387, Capt. J. D. Cleaver, Wellington (U.S.S.). Iberic (750 a.m.), 11,043, Capt J. R. Richmond, Wellington (S.S. and A.). Sunday Rangatira (6.43 a.m.), 9387, Capt. J. D. Cleaver, Wellington (U.S.S.) . Holmlea (7.2 a.m.), 1106, Capt. E. Savage, Wellington (U.S.S.). Larisa Reysner (8.33 a.m.), 5200, Capt. R. Aklt, Ecuador (U.S.S.). DEPARTURES Saturday Rangatira (9.52 a.m.), 9387, Capt. J. D. Cleaver, Wellington (U.S.S.). Parera (11.6 a.m.), 823, Capt R. Speary, Dunedin (U.S.S.). Hawea (1.6 p.m.), 2926, Capt R. H. Stewart, Sydney (U.S.S.). Japan Kauri (4.11 pan.), 9502, Capt. S. Yasumi, Dunedin (N.S.S.). Sunday Rangatira (8.36 p.m.), 9387, Capt J. D. Cleaver, Wellington

EXPECTED ARRIVALS Rangatira, Wellington, November Hawea, Auckland, November 7. Koraki, Dunedin, Nov. 8. Trewidden, Nelson, November 8. Storm, Timaru. November 9. Koranul. Tauranga. November 9. Loire Lloyd, Napier, Nov. 9. Luminous, Wellington, November 10. Ontario, Chile, Nov. 10. Northern Star. Wellington, Nov. 11. Mirrabooka, Wellington, Nov. 11. Koa Maru, Japan, Nov. 11. Karetu, Newcastle, Nov. 12. Port Caroline, Bluff, Nov. 13. Port St Lawrence. Auckland, Nov. 13. Belita. Ocean Island, Nov. 13. Abel Tasman. Cott’s Harbour, Nov. 14. Hupeh, Wellington, November 16. Kawerau. Cape Thevenard, Nov. 17. Pacific Express, Auckland, Nov. 17. Montreal Star, Wellington, November 18. Medic. Wellington, November 19. Canopic, South America, November 21. Straat Lagos. Wellington, November 22. Woosung Wellington. November Port Brisbane, New Plymouth November 23. Sussex, Wellington, Nov. 23. Maheno. Wellington, November 24. Meisei Maru, Wellington, Nov. 25. Otaio, Wellington, Nov 25. Leuve Lloyd, New Plymouth, Nov. 26. Cape Sable, Christmas Island, November 27. H.M.C.S. Gatineau, Auckland, November 29. Port Auckland. Wellington, November 29. Shansi, Wellington. November 29. Hinakura, Bluff, November 29. Straat Luzon, Wellington, Nov-

ember 30. Jelunga. Timaru, November 30. Serafin Topic, Vancouver, late November. Japan Rimu, Wellington, Dec. 1.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES Larisa Reysner, Ecuador, today. Holmlea, Wellington, today. Rangatira, Wellington, November 7 (daylight). Wanaka, Auckland, November 8. Iberic, Dunedin, November 8. Koraki, Auckland. Nov. 9.

Storm. Wanganui. Nov. 9. Koranul, Dunedin. November 10. Trewidden. , November 11. Luminous, -—, November 11. Northern Star. Auckland, November 11. Koa Maru, —. Nov. 11. Loire Lloyd, Auckland, Nov. 13. Port Caroline, Avonmouth, November 14. Mirrabooka, Timaru, November 15. Belita, Timaru, November 15. Karetu, Port Chalmers, Nov. 15

(survey). Abel Tasman. Dunedin. November 16. Port St Lawrence, Genoa, November 16. Ontario. Whangarel. November 18. Hupeh, Tauranga, November 18. Montreal Star, Bluff. November 20. Pacific Express, Bluff. Nov. 2L Medic. Dunedin, November 23. Canopic, Napier, November 24. Straat Lagos. Tauranga, November 24. Maheno, Sydney, November 24. Woosung, Napier, Nov. 25. Kawerau, Tauranga, Nov. 27. Port Brisbane, Dunedin Nov. 28 Otaio, Dunkirk Nov. 28. Leuve Lloyd, Dunedin. Nov. 28. Meisei Maru, Bluff, Nov. 29. Cape Sable. Timaru. Nov. 30. Medic, Dunedin, late November. Serafin Topic. Dunedin, late November. Shansi, Tauranga, December 2. Sussex, Dunedin. Dec. 2. Port Auckland, Dunedin, December 2. Hinakura, Wellington. December 2. H.M.C.S. Gatineau, sea, Decem-

ber 3. Jelunga. Napier. December 3. Japan Rimu, Dunedin, December 4.

VESSELS IN PORT Iberic, No. 2 Cashin Quay. Holmlea, No. 2 West. Larisa Reysner, No. 4 West. W. H. Orbell, Graving Dock.