CAPTAIN C.H. WELCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20867, 6 November 1929, Page 7

CAPTAIN C.H. WELCH.

MANY BIRTHDAY GREETINGS.

TEN SEA CAPTAINS SING A CHANTY.

Captain C. H. Welch of Port Chalmers, received many congratulations yesterday on the attainment of his hundredth birthday. The Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, telegraphed: “Warmest congratulations on attaining your hundredth birthday, and wish you all health and happiness.” Sir Charles Statbam’s message read; “ Please accept my sincere and hearty congratulations upon the attainment of your hundredth birthday.” Mr E. H. Clark, M.L.C., wired: “Congratulations and best wishes. May you have many more years in the best of health.”

Mr A. E. Ansell, M.P., conveyed his greeting in sporting terms: “ Congratulations on attaining your century. You must have batted well. 'Hope good health and happiness will be yours for the rest of the game.” Over 60 'telegrams of congratulation were received. One message concluded: ‘lt is 51 years since I first met you at Port Chalmers.”

Numerous congratulations were conveyed personally. Mr W. Gow, chairmen of the Otago Harbour Board, handed Captain Welch an engraved tobacco pouch containing more than tobacco The Mayor of Port Chalmers (Mr W. G. Love) was the first of the local visitors to call. Men who had known Captain Welch personally since the days when he commanded the whaler SplenJfn, on the veteran shipmaster to shake his hand and wish him well. A WHIFF OF THE BRINY.

The most impressive part of the eventful day was when nine sea captains called in a body to pay their respects to the senior shipmaster of New Zealand. These visitors were Captains Coll M'Donald, R. Fraser, J. M‘Lean, Norman Beaumont, Harry Treurn Frederick Duncan, Albert Shelton. J E. Page, and F. C. Melville.

Captain Welch said he was proud to meet the men of the sea. They honoured him by their visit. Each captain then shook hands with the man who had started his seafaring career 80 years a K°. Captain Fraser conveyed to him/ officially the good wishes of the New Zealand Company of Master Mariners, asking him to accept a useful token of their esteem. When the presentation was over the nine captains elected Captain Beaumont as their 11 chantyman," and together they sang with a heartiness that almost imparted a whiff of the briny to the proceedings, “ Blow The Man Down." Captain Welch, with evident pleasure, joined in the chorus. It was a touch of the sea, and it seemed to breathe the spirit of the historical past into the fraternal sentiment of a unique occasion. *

Captain Melville conveyed the congratulations and good wishes of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition. Captain Welch has been a widower for 2 -i? e v- rs ’ Four of his daughters were with him yesterday—Mrs A. W. Maurais Dunedin). Mrs G. Duncalf (Christch"rc.h)* Mrs B. Holmes (Wanganui), and Miss Rhoda Welch. His son, it Norman Welch, is in Auckland.