A MASTER BOATMAN

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 129, 25 February 1938, Page 8

A MASTER BOATMAN

‘Barney” Williams Retires

VETERAN OF THE LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE After nearly 37 years of strenuous service in the Government lighthouse steamers Hinemoa, Tutanckai and.Matai, Mr. H. Williams, second officer of the Matai, -has retired on superannuation, and on Tuesday he was met by the head oflice staff of the Marine Department and representatives of the lighthouse service and presented with' a reading lamp, a travelling case, and a rug, as a token of the very great esteem in which he is held. ■‘Barney” Williams, as he is wellknown throughout the Dominion, is recognised as Aew Zealand’s master boatman. He is one of the remaining few of the old tyne of seamen skilled in the . ai;t of landing a heavily-laden boat high and drv on the surf-ridden and rocky landings at the various lighthouses and outlying bays and islands of the Dominion. He served for many years under the late Captain John Bollons. A unanimous expression of appreciation and goodwill to Mr. 'Williams was revealed in letters received from various lighthouse-keepers,- and read at the meeting inspired by the unfailing efficiency, courtesy and attention given to the keepers and their families throughout his long years of service. Mr. L. .B. Campbell, Secretary of Marine, in making the presentation, spoke in glowing terms of Mr. Williams's work, of his great knowledge of New Zealand’s native fauna and flora and history generally, knowledge which he was always so willing to make available to anyone seeking it. He expressed the great regret of the department in losing the services of such a valuable officer and wished him and Mrs. Williams many years of happiness and prosperity jn his retirement.

Mr. Campbell’s remarks were supported and supplemented by Captain W. Whiteford (nautical adviser and an old associate of Mr. Williams, both afloat and ashore), Messrs. B. AV. Miller, G. I-I. Tanner, A. P. Burke, Captain G. P. Hall (superintendent of mercantile marine), and Captain F. A. Macindoe (secretary of the Merchant Service Guild). On behalf of the lightkeepers, Messrs. A. J. Hooper, D. W. MeLeish and E. H. Field expressed appreciation of his work in their interests and their good wishes on his retirement.

Mr. Williams, in reply, spoke appreciatively of the many and enduring friendships lie had formed during his period of service, and of the assistance rendered to him by his colleagues ashore and afloat. He stated in conclusion that if, as had been said, he had achieved success in his work, it was due to the fact that he bad always endeavoured to follow an old Maori maxim which translated ie as follows: “The’ eyes to see, the heart to understand, and the hands to do the work with.”

Mr. and Dlrs. Williams are taking up residence at Stewart Island and will be leaving for the south in a feiv days.