A SHIPMASTER DISAPPEARS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 307, 23 September 1926, Page 8

A SHIPMASTER DISAPPEARS

CAPTAIN WILLIAMSON, OF MARAMA LAST SEEN IN WELLINGTON Some anxiety is. felt concerning the whereabouts of Captain R. A. Williamson, a popular master in the employ of the Union Steam Ship Company, who has been missing since Wednesday morning of last week. He was last seen in Wellington about 10 o’clock on that morning. Captain Williamson was up till last week in command of the Union Company’s intercolonial passenger steamer Marama, which arrived at Auckland on Tuesday of last week from Sydney. Immediately on arrival at Auckland Captain Williamson proceeded by the Limited express to Wellington, where he was under instructions to report himself at the head office of the Union Company. On arrival at Wellington on the Wednesday morning Captain Williamson went at once to the company’s head office and consulted with the management. He left the office at 10 a.m. with an understanding that he was expected to return at noon on that day. Since then no one has seen or heard of him.

Subsequent investigations resulted in the discovery that Captain Williamson on arrival by the express from Auckland left his handbag at the Thorndon railway station in the luggage room. An examination of the bag, which was still in the luggage room, disclosed that it contained collars, a pair of pyjamas, handkerchiefs, and shaving material. The various hotels have been combed, but apparently Captain Williamson did not take accommodation at any of them. It would appear that he proceeded direct from the train to the Union Company’s head office without looking for accommodation, and on leaving the office seems to have vanished completely. Captain Williamson’s home is in Auckland. Mrs. Williamson becoming anxious as to her husband’s whereabouts, has come to Wellington to institute inquiries. Anyone having seen Captain Williamson since 10 o’clock on Wednesday morning of' last week is asked to communicate with the head office of the Union Company at Wellington. Captain Williamson 'is about 42 years of age, with dark hair, clean shaven, about' sft. 7|in. in height, and of medium build. He has a son 10 vears of age and a daughter aged about 4 vears. He has been a master in the Union Company’s service for several years, and was well known in the Mel-bourne-New Zealand passenger service. He formerly commanded the Manuka before being given charge of the Marama, which runs between Sydney and Auckland and Sydney and Wellington alternately.