OLD IDENTITIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9752, 23 February 1895, Page 1 (Supplement)

OLD IDENTITIES.

CAPTAIN I. J. BURGESS: LATE CHIEF HARBOURMASTER. The retirement of Captain Burgess, late chief harbourmaster of the port of Auckland, from active service, after a very lengthy term of official duty, is a fitting opportunity for giving some particulars concerning the career of a very old colonist, who has been identified with the fortunes of Auckland almost from its foundation, and with the history of the colony for nearly half a century. Captain Burgess is a native of London, and was born in 1824, completed his education at Greenwich Hospital Upper (Naval) School and then entered the the merchant service, serving his apprenticeship in the ship Forester—Captain McArthur—trading between London and the West Indies. Having subsequently made other voyages to Australia, South Africa, and North America, he sailed for New Zealand in March, 1846, as chief officer of the barque Madras, arriving at Nelson in July, and thence to Wellington, Taranaki, and" Auckland, and at the latter place he left the Madras, and entered the Government service as chief officer of H.M. Colonial brig Victoria—Captain Richards. Shortly after this the vessel left Auckland for the South, and in August, 1847, while she was lying off the settlement of Wanganui in company with If. M.s. Calliope (there being then some disturbance with the natives of this place), Captain Richards, in attempting to communicate with the military authorities there was accidentally drowned, his boat -an open one—having capsized on the bar at the entrance of tho Wanganui River. Deputy Commissary General Power, who was a passenger in the boat, and the boat's crew being promptly rescued by another boat sent from the brig. Captain Richards' body was also picked up. Immediately after this the brig left for Wellington in" charge of the chief officer, arriving there at midnight, when the Superintendent of Wellington, Major Richmond, was at once informed of the sad event. Some days alter the brig

left for Auckland, Captain Burgess being duly appointed to the command of the vessel, and from that time up to June, 1848, the vessel was actively employed between Auckland and the Southern settlements in carrying despatches, passengers, troops, stores, etc., aud otherwise attending to the requirements of the Colonial Government. On the brig's return to Auckland in June it was found that the vessel was very much in want of repairs, consequently Captain Burgess received instructions from the Government to proceed to Taranaki, and after landing specie and despatches at that place was to sail at once for Sydney with despatches for the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, from whom instructions would bo received relative to the repairs of the brig, which proved more extensive than expected. On the return of the vessel to Auckland in October she was immediately despatched for the South, and again was fully employed as before in visiting the different settlements, and especially that of Wano-anui, where a detachment of the Goth Regiment were still stationed. The brig was also engaged for a time in the Acheron survey of Cook's Strait, Blind Bay, and Taranaki coast.

In 1850 Captain Burgess resigned the command of the Government brig, and was appointed chief pilot and acting-harbour master at Auckland during the absence of Captain Rough, and on his being transferred to the Customs Department was permanently appointed harbour master for the port, of Auckland, holding that position up to December, 1891. For the first few years he was under the direction of the general Government, but on the Provincial Government assuming control of ports and humours lie was transferred to that Government, ana assisting the Government in all matters, respecting the harbour, and the safe navigation of the same, the maintenance of buoys or beacons, and other matters affecting the interests of the porb being entrusted to him. For many years, up to the date at che obolition of the provinces, Captain Burgess held the position of chief harbour master for the province of Auckland, ana as such had the general supervision of the harbours of Manukau, Kaipara, Hokianga, Thames, and Tauranga, and other harbours in the provincial district of Auckland. During tins time the improvements wore carried out ob the Manukau pilot and signal station, Kaipara pilot station, at Hokianga, and at the Thames.

Captain Burgess had also a great deai to do with the preliminary work in connection with the erection of the Flat Rock beacon, thcTiritiri lighthouse, and the Sandspitand Bean Rock Lighthouses, and afterwards attending bo the same, and rendered every assistance possible to Mr. Balfour—the then Colonial Marine Engineer—in carrying out these works, and other matters in connection with the harbours of this province.

In 1868, a conference of harbourmasters was held in Wellington, for the purpose of framing general harbour regulations for all ports of the colony. Captain Burgess was present at all tho deliberations of this conference. The regulations then drawn up have since remained, without material alteration, In operation throughout tho colony. In 1871, the port of Auckland having been placed under the control of a local Harbour Board, Captain Burgess's services were transferred to it, bub he did nob sever his connection with the Government, still retaining the position of Chief Harbourmaster for the Province of Auckland until the passing of the Abolition of Provinces Act in 1876, his duties being thenceforward confined to the port of Auckland. In 1876, the Harbour Board having decided to procure a dredge to deopen the harbour, the Alpha dredge was supplied by Messrs Fraser and Tinne, and the first dredging operations were started and carried on for some considerable time under the supervision of the harbourmaster, until relieved by the appointment of Harbour Board engineer. In 1878, the Auckland Graving Dock was completed, Captain Burgess being appointed dock master, the firsb vessel docked being the Northern S.S. Company's steamer lona, and on the completion of the Calliope Graving Dock in 1888, Captain Burgess took charge of this dock also as dookmaster. This dock was formally opened on tho 16th February, Her Majesty's ships Calliope and Diamond being docked at the same time in commemoration of the event.

Captain Burgess retired at; the end of December, 1894, from his official connection with the port of Auckland, after a service of 44 years directly connected with this port, and of 48 years in the service of the colony. On his retirement, Captain Burgess was presented by the officers of the Auckland Harbour Board with an illuminated address and a silver tea set and salver, bearing the following engraved inscription : - " Presented to Captain Isaac James Burgess, as a token of sincere respect and esteem by the officors of the Auckland Board, December, 1894."

In 1866 he had a serious illness, consequent upon overwork and constant exposure to the weather, and at one time was not expected to recover from it ; and in Juno, 1891, met with an accident while in.the .esecntiQu of .duties, by which he

sustained severe injuries, from the effects of which he still suffers.

Among his correspondence he has letters from the early governors of the colony (one yery kindly one from Sir George Grey), the naval officers commanding the stations and from the steam shipping companies, thanking him for services rendered. _ Captain Burgess has eleven of a family living out of thirteen, and fourteen grandchildren. Though now past three score and ten, he is still vigorous in mind and body, and his many friends and well-wishers can only hope that in the evening of life he may be long spared to view "from the loopholes of retreat" the maritime life of our port, in which in his day he has played so useful and so honourable a part.