AN OLD PILOT
Last Saturday some details of the experiences of Mr. J. L. Holmes, one time a member of the pilot staff at Worser Bay, were given.
' Mr. Holmes can recall many occasions on which the pilots had to spend anything up to a "week or more aboard a ship before she could be brought into Wellington. They were tough clays those! Pulling out miles into Cook Strait in the teeth of southerlies to pick up overseas ships was a common occurrence. The pilot station was in a lonely spot and the only neighbours were a few fishermen and Maoris. It consisted -of a 10-acro property on which were situated the pilot's, coxwain's, and crews' houses. Included in Mr. Holmcs's prized possessions ia an old ensign which lias a bright spot of history attached to it. It was given to his father by Captain Fairchild, tho master of many Government steamers including the Stella, Hinemoa, and Tutanokai. It. appears that Captain Fairchild was flying a blue ensign while in Wellington at one time and this aroused tlie disapproval of a certain man-of-war then in poxt. He was re-
quested to roniovo the naval flag and only after a, deal of hesitation did he agroo to do so. But h-o promptly put it up again as soon as the man-of-war left port (so tho talo goes), only to bo the subject of a further official request to remove the flag whon the naval vessel returned. Not to bo outdone Captain Fairchild took down the ensign, plastered four stars in it, and ran it up again—as the New Zealand flag!
Another valued possession of Mr. Holmes is a 1780 (circa) edition of Captain Cook's voyages, complete with engravings, a, list of subscribers, and edited by George William Anderson.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19340929.2.229.3
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 78, 29 September 1934, Page 27
Word Count
297
AN OLD PILOT
Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 78, 29 September 1934, Page 27
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