2,500,000 MILES AT SEA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10109, 26 September 1917, Page 6

2,500,000 MILES AT SEA.

A CAPTAIN'S RECORD

i,()\l»iN. August 7. Niiielv-iuo tound voyages to the Allli node- and ba«-k; 95 times round the < ape. 75 times round the Horn. 14 manoeuvringof trickv Magellan. 192 tone- across the Equator 2' million miles at sen without -erious mishap: never oil' duly for a single dav on the -core of illness. Surely a good enough record lor any man At am rate, the New Zealand Ship ping Company decides that hj is sullic-ient. and Captain 11. E. Oreciistreet. the doyen of their fleet, ha? nc-ordmgiy retired from the sea after brhitting the Reniuera once more safelv into English waters. _ We are told that the captain was perlecth willing to iro to sea again, but the directors of the roiiipaiiv realise that the strain ot navigation and responsibility tells heavilx under pie-clit coM.liiions. and they are coir vinced that thcii commodore is now .<'>'"tled ~, ~ ,est They would be loth to tnink that a splendid career at sea might be brollg.l t.. a forced dose under the di thou It conditions at present obtaining, and. in any case, retirement would not. be far distant. iiaim'V ships.

Kor long vears travellers have 1 n happ> if thev had Captain Greeiislrcot in coinn.and.' and they felt secure even when threading dillicuh Magellan. With none has the --en-" of security been more emphasised during the dangers which have arisen through the war. It is mentioned that the vessels commanded by Captain Creenstree have always been "happy -hips -lie had

■Meat tact' and there were no friction- on board: and it has bee, said that no .man ha* ever been het'er known or more hignlj ,"l'.'ni'..h, of in New Zealand. An admirer writes in the Tines: "Certainly, very mam passengers always clux.se to travel In the 'l,ip s he comma,nled. and ofheers and crew were alwavs glad to serve under him. It was his custom every Sunday morning at sea ,„ r ,, t d (he prayers and to deliver a .little 1„,„,i1v. For many the ell'eci ~l the sample sn-aightfoiward address spoken by this ..li.-ln weather marked, unassuming seaman. ~/.!„. si.in pounded through the water. !, U H have'ren.ainod for year- as an ill pit- ;.,, i„,pr,-s-ion. Captain Urecnstreet-« immunity from aeciJe.lt has bee,, remarkable, and he is linnly convinced that more than ~,„.,. the direct intervention of Providence saved Ids. -/nip and those within hi- charge from disaster.''