OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 178, 26 April 1938, Page 15

OBITUARY

Captain J. Geere Watson

WELL-KNOWN MASTER MARINER The death occurred on Saturday afternoon of Captain James Geere Watson, Prince Street, 'Wellington, who retired a little more than three years ago after a successful career of 45 years at sea, of which 35 years were spent in the .service of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, Limited. He had been in ill-health for the last jwo years. Born at Sheffield, in Yorkshire, in 1872, he was brought out to New Zealand as a child in the barque Chili, of which his father, Captain James Watson, was master. His parents settled at Havelock North, where his father went into business defter his retirement from the sea, and it was in ttiat township that the lad was educated. At the jubilee of the Havelock North School a few years ago, it was remarked that Captain James Geere Watson was the only boy from that inland school who had gained a shipmaster’s certificate and bad followed the sea throughout his life. His father did not intend that his son should go to sea but that he should go into business ashore. But young Watson heard and answered the call of the sea. He served nine years in sailing ships, in which he rose to the position of first mate, and in 1899 he obtained his master’s certificate in London. A few mouths later he returned to New Zealand and entered the service of the Union Steam Ship Company, in which he remained for 35 years. His first appointment was as third officer of the Mapourika and later he served in that capacity in the Rotoiti, Rakanoa, Hawea, and Tarawera. As second officer he served in the Janet Nicoll, Mapourika, Waipori, and Takapuna; and as chief officer in the Te Anau, Kotuku, Arahura, Pateena, Takapuna, Penguin, and Koromiko, and also on the Wairuna and Monowai, predecessors of the ships now bearing those names.

In 1909 Captain Watson was appointed master of the Poherua, and in the following 26 years he commanded no fewer than 29 of the company’s ships. These included the Hawea, Pukaki, Koonya, Rosamond, Kini, Takapuna, Pateena, Corinna, Flora, Kamo (about six years), Komata, Wanaka, Ngakuta, Atua, Waimarino, Kaiapoi, Kawatiri, Waikawa, Karetu, Kurow, Kairanga, Kaitoko, Kaiwarra, Kaimanawa, Kanna, Kaikorai and Waikouaiti.

Captain Watson took command of the Waikouaiti in 1929, and spent six years in her, leaving her at Wellington, on March 2, 1935, on his retirement from the Union Company’s service and the sea. His officers and crew were as sorry to lose him as he was to leave his ship. When the Waikouaiti steamed out of port, Captain Watson was watching her from his house above Oriental Bay. The crew lined her rails and cheered him and the ship’s whistle was sounded and her ensign dipped as she passed down the fairway. Captain Watson, who was respected greatly by all who knew him, was “every inch a sailor.” He was a most competent shipmaster, and his long career was unmarred by any mishap to any of the numerous ships he commanded. He was one of the most senior members of the Wellington Merchant Service Guild.

Captain Watson leaves a widow, a son, Mr. Clive Geere Watson, who recently returned from London, and a daughter, Mrs. E. Henderson, of Hastings. Mr. Thomas Watson, of Havelock North, is a half-brother, and Mrs. Malcolm Fraser, Wellington, a ■ halfsister.

The funeral will leave the Morris mortuary chapel for Karori at 10 o’clock this morning.