OLD SEAFARER’S DEATH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19550, 4 February 1938, Page 4

OLD SEAFARER’S DEATH

MR. PETER E. MILNE 60 YEARS IN DISTRICT BROKE THIGH IN FALL An bid seafaring man who had resided in Gisborne for the past GO years, Mr. Peter E. Milne, died at 7.5 p.m. yesterday at the Cook Hospital. Mr. Milne, who was well known to the older residents of Gisborne, fell down a flight of steps about a fortnight ago and was admitted to hospital with a broken thigh. The deceased was born in Aberdeen in 1855 and his desire to go to sea at the age of 15£ years was fulfilled when in June, 1870, he joined the Aberdeen-White Star Line’s vessel Jerusalem as an apprentice. From then on his life was one of adventure and before he came of age Mr. Milne had been five *times round Cape Horn. He served four years as an apprentice on the Jerusalem and was then promoted to able seaman on the Centurion. He left the sea for a few months when the vessel arrived in England and taught himself navigation, later being successful in his examination for a second mate’s ticket. Other ships in which he sailed were the Star of Germany, Camille, Canny Scott and Pearl. Arrival in Gisborne in 1878 There was little settlement in Poverty Bay when Mr. Milne arrived here in February, 1878. When the late Mr. A. Graham was erecting a building on the corner of Gladstone road and Customhouse street the Pearl was used to convey the shingle from the mouth of the Waipaoa River. The Pearl also worked on the East Coast. Mr. Milne left that vessel to take up tallying for Messrs. Kennedy and Gibbons and when that firm bought the Rosina he took a position aboard her.

In those days Mr, Milne was a keen huntsman and horseman and also a member of the East Coast Hussars, of which he was secretary for three or four years. At the time when it was feared that Te Kooti was going to pay another visit to Poverty Bay there was great concern among local natives, especially the Ngatiporou tribe, and Mr. Milne was one of the force dispatched from Gisborne to stop Te Kooti and his party. Lost Sight of Eye

After conducting a carrying business in Gisborne for some time, Mr. Milne secured a position with Messrs. Williams and Kettle, Limited, as general storeman and later had charge of the seed department. In 1908 he paid a visit to England and Scotland and when he came out again he took over a general store at Muriwai. He did not stay there long, however. In more recent years Mr. Milne was a tallyman at the Waipaoa freezing works, and became financially interested in the farmers’ venture, including the Admiral Codrington purchase, his financial position suffering considerably as a result. In latter years he had been living in retirement in Gisborne.

A few years ago, when chopping firewood, Mr. Milne suffered an accident that caused him the loss of the sight of an eye and, although he was unable to see well through the other eye, he had recovered remarkably well and retained his happy disposition.

Mr. Milne was a member of the Manchester Unity Oddfellows, jbining the Gisborne lodge in 1878, and after a short break remained a member up to the time of his death. He was a past officer. His health of recent years had not been good, and he had been on the sick list since October, 1934. Many lodge members are expected at the funeral to-morrow, and a conveyance will leave the Masonic Hall at 1.30 p.m. After a short service at Haisman’s private chapel, Wi Pere street, the funeral will leave at 2 p.m. to-morrow for the Taruheru cemetery.

The deceased was a single man, with no relatives in New Zealand.

An inquest will be opened at 10.15 a.m. to-morrow before the coroner, Mr. E. L. Walton, S.M.