FAMOUS SHIPBUILDER

Evening Star, Issue 17394, 2 July 1920, Page 8

FAMOUS SHIPBUILDER

—■ * THE LATE DONALD M'KAY. The arrival of the American steamer Donald M'Kay at Auckland on Tuesday morning last from New York direct is a- double reminder—first, of the complete disappearance since -August, 1914, of the German merchant flag from the New Zealand trade; and, second, of the fact that the American flag is becoming increasingly familiar in New Zealand.

Up to the outbreak of the war the ser-, ; vice of the United States and Australian I Line was wholly maintained bv the steamers of the Geiman Hansa Lineof Bremen ; .now it. is purely an American steamship service, and it has developed to the extent that its fillips leturn to New York direct witli cargo from Australian ports. Before and during the war the American was "shown" in yew Zealand ports solely by lumber schooners from Pacific Cocst ports. To-day not a month passes but an upto-date, oil-burning, turbinedriven American steamer :s eeen in New Zealand waters. The development of the U.S. and A. Line as a purely American service from New York to New Zealand ports has been followed by the inauguration of an American cargo service from Pacific Coast ports to New Zealand and Australia, the first steamer of which sailed a, few days ago. Another interesting fact connected with the arrival of the Donald M'Kav is that she bears the name of the most famous chpper-ship builder the world has known. Bom at Shelburne, Nova Scotia, in 1810, he was a descendant of that sturdy Highland chieftain Donald M'Kav, who'died at Tarn, County Ross, Scotland, in 1395. At the age of 16 Donald M'Kay went- to New lork, where he learned his trade and became a master shipwright. * In 1844 Donald M'Kay met- Enoch Train, a- wellknown ship-owner and merchant of Boston, and for him he built the Joshua Bates, th 3 pioneer ship of Train's famous Liverpool Line, 'then, at the age of 34, he opened his great shipyard in East Boston, where he built in rapid succession between 1845 and 1850 the famous packsfc ships Washington Irving, Anglo-Saxon. Ocean Monarch, Anglo-American, an 4 Daniel "Webster for Train's Line, as well as many beautiful ships for other American owners.

In 1851 the United States was at the zenith of her power upon the ocean, and had completely outstripped Great Britaia in the efficiency and extent of her oversea shipping trade, anS it was in that year that the cup now known as the America Cup was won by the America, representing the New York Yacht Club. The supremacy of America was maintained until about 1856, and during that period American ships continued to be built for and bought and chartered bv British shipowners ; but after the great financial depression from 1857 to 1859 British shipowners no longer needed American-built ships, for in Great Britain iron had superseded wood in the construction of large ships, and, following the repeal of the Navigation Laws, the .Merchant Shipping Act of 1854 completed the foundation upon wnich the merchant marine of Great Britain was developed, the while there was a corresponding decline in American shipping. _ Apart from the numerous and wonderful clippers built by Donald M'Kay for purely American trade, his fame was such that his ships were much sought after bv British owners. The discovery of gold in Australia in 1851 caused a vast development in the trade to Melbourne, and keen rivalry between the White Star Line and James Baines and Co.'s Black Ball Line. Both of these lines turned to PonaM M'Kay for ships, and his famous Sovereign of the Seas in 1855 went out from Liverpool to Melbourne in 77 days, under charter to the Black Ball Line. The White Star Line chartered the Chariot of Fame, a. sister ship to'the Star of Empire, tons, built by Donald M'Kay in 1853. She made many notable passages between England and Australia, her best passage being 66 davs from Liverpool to .Melbourne. The Chariot of Fame brought,, a large number of passengers out to Lyttelton in 1863. In 1854 Donald M'Kay ouilt the Lightning, Champion of the Seas, James Baines, and Donald M/Ka-y for the Black Bail Line. The Lightning has the record 'of being the sw-iftest sailing ship ever built, with" a 24 hours' run. of 436 miles to her credit During the Civil War Donald M'Kay built a number of ships for the United States Government, and in 1877 he retired to his farm at Hamilton, Massachusetts, where he died on September 20, 1880, in his 71st year.