ADVENTURES AT SEA
MASTER MARINER RETIRES
CAPT. J. BENTON'S CAREER
After nearly 45 years' service on the sea, Captain John Benton, master of the Union Steam Ship Company's intercolonial vessel Kaliiigo, has retired. Captain. Benton first went to sea in 1689 in the schooner Olive, which was engaged in the Island trade. When at Apia the crew left the vessel to take part in the first Maleatoa war, and the schooner was delayed until the ■ dispute was settled. After sailing in the schooner Christine, he joined the Southern Cross. When on board the three-masted schooner Jessie, Captain Benton, together with other members of the crew, was forced to abandon the vessel in a hurricane. They landed on an island, and when the hurricane had blown itself out they found that the schooner had broken her cable. Accordingly they were forced to row to Noumea, a distance of about 300 miles. - .
Captain Benton then joined the Indiana, which was lost on Barren Island, Banks. Strait, when bound for Tasmania. After spending a week on the island, he and other members of the crew set out for 1/aunceston in a small boat and were picked up by the barque Alastor, which was also blown to sea, and it was two weeks before the vessel reached Tasmania. In 1907 Captain Benton was appointed master of the Squall, and bo was also in command of theCorwina, the Manapouri, the Hauroto. and. -the Hanpiri. Ho resigned in 1910 to take, command of the i nga, which ' was the first steamer owned by IL S. Lamb and Company, Limited, and J. ,]. Craig, Limited.
In 1911 Captain Benton went to England to supervise the building of the lhumata. for the same company. After bringing the vessel out to Australia he resigned from the company in 1914 to lake up the position of harbormaster at Gisborno. He" left this position to take command of the Omana, where he remained for 14 years. He then joined the Kalingo, which was taken over by the Union Steam Ship Company in 1930, and he held this position until "his.retirement.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PBH19350105.2.31
Bibliographic details
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18596, 5 January 1935, Page 4
Word Count
348ADVENTURES AT SEA Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18596, 5 January 1935, Page 4
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