CHIEF STEWARD RETIRES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22584, 24 November 1936, Page 10

CHIEF STEWARD RETIRES

LAST TRIP ON AORANGI MANY EQUATOR CROSSINGS The chief steward on the Royal Mail liner Aorangi, Mr. H. E. Read, who claims to have crossed the Equator probably a greater number of times than any other man at sea—he has "crossed the Line'' twice a month for the past 35 years—is making his last trip, at least in an official capacity. The vessel left Auckland last night for Sydney, where Mr. Read will "sign off." He is retiring after nearly 50 years' service with the Union Steam Ship Company. Mr. Read, who is 63 years of age, was born in New Plymouth, and joined the shipping company as a stewardcadet at Wellington in 1887. He first served on the old coastal vessel Kanieri and after experience on many other ships he was appointed chief steward on the transpacific steamer Moana 35 years ago. Since then Mr. Read has served on the Marama, Makura, Niagara and Aorangi. He has been chief steward on the Aorangi for 12 years. He was on the steamer Grafton, which was wrecked off the west coast of lasinania many years ago, and also on the Wakatipu, the intercolonial vessel which sank in Sydney Harbour following a collision with another steamer.

One of Mr. .Read's most valued possessions is the bell of the Kanieri, which the directors of the Northern Steamship Company presented to him when the vessel, which they had bought from the Union Company, was broken up. The bell now hangs on the verandah of liis home in Sydney.