MERCHANT NAVY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 October 1928, Page 5

MERCHANT NAVY

CAPTAIN BLACKBURNE HONOURED.

WELLINGTON, October 25. An unexpected honour has heen conferred upon Captain H, S. Blackburne, of Oriental terrace, Wellington, exnautical adviser to the Marine Department, who has been advised bv cablegram that he has been / unanimously elected an honorary, member of the Honourable Company off Master Mariners “for great services rendered to the merchant navy.” The cablegram notifying Captain Blackburne of his election was!signed by the DeputyMaster, Sir Burton Chadwick, who is eminent in the nautical world, and-is deputy to the Prince of Wales, who ranks as Master.

In connexion with the above honour, Captain Blackburne received a letter recently from an old contemporary. Captain Thos. S. Angus, of * Freane, Loughton, Essex, at one time superintendent for the P. and O. Line in London, and one of the keenest of students of navigation. This fine old gentleman —now nearly 80 years off age—in the course of a thirteen page letter, said: “Now, I have something to tell you which I have had some hesitation about letting you know, as it might result in disappointment, but even if it does it will be gratifying to you to know the high esteem in which you and your labours are held by a very large number of seamen. About a fortnight ago I happened to call on Mr Smith, secretary of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners. Whilst I was there, Captain Chaplin, who has - just been elected an Elder Brother of Trinity House, came in with the proposal that you should be elected an honorary member of the Company. I don’t know if he ever met you, but he pointed out that you are now well up m years.” Mr Smith pointed out that the honorary membership was very jealously guarded by Sir Burton Chadwick, and up to the present only the; , most distinguished men have been:: elected. Captain Blackburne, who is quite • sensible to the honour conferred upon A him, could only‘suggest that it came through his authorship of t various books on navigation, notably his “Hour Angle and Altitude Azimuth Tables,” his “ Excelsior ex-Meridian and Position Finding Tables,” his “ Modern Up-to-date Navigation,” and his j “ ABC Azimuth Tables/’ standard works which are known throughout the world, but which have yielded their author practically nothing in hardcash, though confering valuable assistance to navigating officers. Captain Blackburne was formerly of the P. and O. Steam Navigation Company, whose service he left over a matter of principle. He came out to New Zealand in 1909, and took up the duties of nautical adviser to the .Marine Department, from which he retired on reaching the age limit*