FIFTY YEARS’ SERVICE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3673, 5 August 1924, Page 7

FIFTY YEARS’ SERVICE.

HONOURING CAPTAIN BONE. IFkom Oub Own Correspondent J WELLINGTON, July 29. There was a notable gathering on board the New Zealand Shipping Company’s R.AI.S. Remuera this afternoon, and the speeches that were made were worthy of the distinguished company that had assembled. Commander Cameron, R.N.R., the master of the ship, presided, and on his right was Viscount Jellicoe, and on his left the Prime Alinister. Several officers of the senior service were also present. The occasion was a luncheon given by a company whose history has been to a great extent connected with the progress of New Zealand. It was in honour of Captain Bone, who has been for 50 years in the service of the New Zealand Shipping Company, and who now in his seventy-second year has asked to be allowed to retire. Among those who apologised for their inability to attend were Sir George Clifford, Alessrs George Gould, and William Reece. It oerhaps came as a surprise to the politicians who were present to find that in the mercantile marine, as well as in the senior service, there were orators who could hold their own with the best of them. Commander Cameron, in proposing the health of the Governor-General and Lady Jellicoe, paid an eloquent and touchng tribute to Lord Jellicoe for his great work in the war, and he referred also to the affection in which he was held by the whole of the mercantile marine, remarks which were heartily applauded. Lord Jellicoe spoke charmingly, as he always does on such occasions. He was evidently much touched with what had been said about him, but he mingled with liis remarks those touches of humour which he so aptly introduces on such occasions. After listening to Commander Cameron’s remarks, he said it was evident to him that a change was coming over the seaman, inasmuch as he was becoming qualified as a statesman and an orator. —(Lughter.) As for himself, lie said it was no wonder that lie felt a strong sympathy with the officers and men of the mercantile marine, seeing that his own father was a mercantile marina

officer.—(Applause.) “I myself,” he added, “was Vnercantile-marine born, and I am a New Zealander at heart.”—(Applause.) During the course of his interesting speech Lord Jellicoe paid a very warm tribute to the splendid work of the mercantile marine in the war. Ho had no hesitation in saying that during the submarine menace of 1917 if it had not been for the resource, courage, and tho determination of the officers and men qf tho mercantile marine, Great Britain would have lost the war.—(Loud applause.) Ho was exceedingly proud of having been asked to do honour to a great ornament of the mercantile marine Captain Bone.—(Applause.) I’m r.ot sure whether he started his sea life before I did,” added Lord Jellicoe. “I don't think he did. He doesn’t look like it.”— (Laughter.) To Air Alassey fell the honour of proposing Captain Bone’s health. He recalled the fact that he and Captain Bone were only 14 years old when they came out in the sailing vessel, the City of Auckland, ,54 years ago. That ship wa3 set on fire and sank in Auckland Harbour, but she was raised again and made another trip Home and was eventually wrecked on the East Coast, near Otaki, where her remains still wore. Captain Bone was one of his oldest personal friends in New Zealand. In concluding Air Massey said he thought the Empire could do without a good many of its present' politicians, but it could not without the men of the mercantile marine. —(Laughter and applause.) Air J. H. C. Bond, dominion manager of the company, in a cheery speech told the assembled company in a few words something of the career of the sailor they were honouring. Captain Bone had joined the sailer Waikato at the end of February, 1874 as third mate, and after passing through the grades of second and chief was appointed to command the sailing ship Rakaia at the end of 1830. In 1883 the company 7, on deciding to go into steam, selected him to gain experience in that direction, and so lie was appointed to the chartered White Star s.s. lonic, under Captain Hallett, R.N., commander on the launch of tho company’s first steamer, Tongariro. He transferred to that ship as chief officer, and after three voyages "was appointed to the command in 1884. being the first of the company’s trained officers to be given command both in sail and steam. In 1898 he was requested by the company to take up the position of marine superintendent, which duty he carried out alone until the appointment of Captain Olphert as his assistant in Alav, 1919. Mr Bond referred to the excellent work done by Captain Bone in fitting up troopships during the war, and to the career cf that very gallant sailor in the company’s service, Captain Smith, who, in the Otaki, with one 4.7 gun, fought the heavilyarmed raider Aloe we for two hours, and w 7 ho, iiring to the last, sank with the British colours flying. For his heroic action a posthumous V.C. was awarded, and the Lords of the Admiralty had put on record the opinion that this was a very gallant action, and that if tho Otaki hail had a little more luck she would have sunk Ihe* raider against overwhelming odds. —(Cheers.) Air Bond added a few words about Captain Bone’s successor. Captain Olphert, D. 5.0., D.S.C. R.D.R.N.R., who had given distinguished service during the war in two armed yachts and the Qls, one of the “mystery” ships. Captain Bone replied feelingly for the honour that had been done to him. Referring to his old shipmate, the Prime Alinister, he said he had tried in those far-off days in the City 7 of Auckland to persuade him that there was nothing like “a life on the ocean wave, a home on the rolling deep,” but that life was not for Air Alassey. There was a little cherub sitting up aloft watching over the destinies of New Zealand who had decided otherwise.—(Lau ghter.) The luncheon concluded with a “chanty” embodying references to the guest of honour, and to which (be whole company, liis Excellency included, heartily sang the chorus, “Hey 7, ho, roll the man down.”