HARBOURMASTER RETIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21016, 29 October 1931, Page 12

HARBOURMASTER RETIRES.

22 YEARS AT MANUKAU. CAPTAIN GIBBONS' SERVICE. The harbourmaster at Manukau, Captain R. H. Gibbons, will retire shoitly on superannuation after more than 22 years' service in the position. Captain Gibbons, who formerly was well known on the New Zealand coast and in ' th§ Pacific Islands as the master of several vessels, has served under the Auckland Harbour Board since 1913. In that year the board took over the control of the Manukau Harbour from the Marine Department, under which Captain Gibbons had served as harbourmaster fpr several years. Captain Gibbons was born at Onehur.ga in 1864 and was educated at Thames, where his father, the late Mr. John Gibbons, opened the first sawmill. He went to sea at tho age of 14 and remained in the coastal trade for five years. He afterwards joined the mission steamer Southern Cross, being engaged on the vessel in the Western Pacific service for three years. During the next two years Captain Gibbons was in the intercolonial trade and he next commanded a steamer running to the Thames River. Ho joined the Northern Steamship Company as second mate of the steamer Wellington and rose to the position of master of the Ohinemuri. Captain Gibbons commanded several other Northern Company vessels, including the Rotomahana ana the Clansman. He left the company s service on being appointed harbourmaster at Manukau by the Government. Captain Gibbons was married in IS9o and has one son, Mr. J. S. Gibbons, of Or.ehunga.