Captain Ness, friend and hero

Press, 28 July 1976, Page 22

Captain Ness, friend and hero

Own reporter Westport "He loved the sea and those who sailed on it" might well be a fitting epitaph to Mr Alexander Rintoul Ness. Mr Ness, better known as Captain Ness, died in Buller Hospital recently after a long illness. Captain Ness had a most interesting career. Bom in Scotland in 1898, he came to New Zealand in 1914, to find that World War I was in progress. He immediately signed on to the S.S. Verdaia, which had been taken over by the Government and converted into Troopship 13. to carry the First New Zealand Reinforcements — 600 men and 500 torses — to Egypt. The very young Ness was at Gallipoli with the allied fleet on Anzac Day. 1915, and throughout the war was engaged on ships carrying troops and munitions to battle zones. He was awarded a medal for gallantry there. But a second, even more treasured award came as a cross presented to him in 1915 by King George V. for diving from his ship m rough seas off the English coast to save a fellow seaman from drowning. Alex Ness was then only 17, and actually thought that the man had been drowned until he met him later when going ashore — and was thankfully handed seven shillings and five pence as a reward. This was a bonanza for the young apprentice, who

was being paid only 19d a week. He was very proud of that medal, and the case inscribed G Rex V, also the silver watch and sextant presented by the Carnegie Heroes Trust Board in recognition of his bravery. Mr Ness returned to New Zealand in 1920 and took his Extra Master’s Certificate, the first peron in New Zealand to do so. He served three years with the Union Company and two years in Chinese waters. He married a New Zealand girl, Huia Harland, and finally settled ashore m 1929. to be employed by the Otago Harbour Board and then the Marine Department at Westport in 1943 As Wesport Harbour Master he earned the respect of ship-owners, skippers and crews alike, and the waterside workers. One of the many commendations on his retirement in 1961 was one from the Westport branch of the Waterside Workers’ Union. affectionately headed "Dear friend." A happy event for the old mariner was a meeting with Governor-General Sir Bernard Fergusson, when he visited Westport. Captain Ness’s home adjoined the Fergusson estate in Scotland and the two were in a delightfully reminiscent mood. Captain Ness is survived by his wife, two sons in Auckland and a daughter, Mrs Margaret Barnes, of Christchurch.