PILOT AT LYTTELTON

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7026, 14 January 1910, Page 5

PILOT AT LYTTELTON

CAPTAIN HUNTER, OF THE .MAORI, APPOINTED. Private advice was received in Wellington yesterday that Captain Thomas jM. Hunter, of tho Union Company's steamier Maori, has been appointed (pilot to the Lyttelton Harbouir Board at a salary of £3OO a year. " ■' Captain Hunter, who is-thirty-eight years of age and a native- of Ayrshire, Scotland, came out to New ■Zealand in 1898 as seoond officer of the Union Company's steamer Rotoiti whan she was on her maiden voyage 'ifrom the builders. Ho was subfid- 1 'Jmontly engaged inithe Vancouver ser-, vice as second officer of the Moanay ,iand was afterwards promoted to chief lofficer of. the Moana, and later on Jbransferred to the Warrimod and RoItoiti in that capacity. After being ■Blaster of the Komata and some of the •Union Company's other cargo boats,, 'Captain Hunter commanded the Wainui, Ta.kapuua, Rotornahana, Penguin, Pateena, and, Rotoiti, and -latterly he has been engaged in 'the "WellingtonLyttelton ferry service. His present! command is tho turbine steamer Maori, -which ■ vessel " he has handled for the past ' nineteen months with snch skill as to evoke the favourable comment of all sections of the 'seafaring- community. .Captain Hunter is a son-in-law of JVBr William Cable,; of Wellington. Of twenty-three years experience at ' sea " eight years were ispent by him on sailing vessels. The position of master of the Maori Icarriesa salary equal to about £4l a ;p>onth inclusive of bonus. In resignling his command Captain Hunter has levidently been actuated by a desire |not uncommon among shipmasters .to secure a shore billet. Our special correspondent telegraphed last night that tho appointment of 'Captain Hunter as second pilot was (mado at a special meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday morning. iFirom twenty-eight' applicants .three |woro picked, from which! number ■ tho 'filial selection waa made.