OLD COLONIST’S DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1930, Page 3

OLD COLONIST’S DEATH

.EARLY SHIPBUILDING DAYS. ‘SERVICE* IN MACRI WAR. The oldest member of the King’s Empire Veterans in Auckland, Mr. Thomas Henry Anderson, died a-t his residence, Ponsonby, on Tuesday, • aged 84 years. Mr. Anderson served with the volunteers in the Maori War, and he had vivid recollections of early life iq the Auckland district. _ • . Mr. Anderson was born in London -,in > 1546, and he was taken to Auckland in the same year by his parents. Later he was apprenticed to Mr. Henry Niccol, one of Auckland's -earliest boatbuilders. Mr. Anderson remembered the launching of the barque Novelty, the largest craft built in Auckland up to that time. To launch the Novelty- it was necessary to dig a trench which ran parallel with St. Barnabas’ Point cliff; Unfortunately, something went wrong and the barque swerved out of the channel and lay hard and fast. Help was' lent by the bluejackets from H.M.S. Tiger and H.M.*s. Miranda, and the barque was launched on the following day. When Mr. Anderson was connected with the boatbuilding trade, kauri was used for the planking.: of bqats and pohutukawa for the framing. ‘ Smart schooners which traded between; Auckland and the Pacific Islands were built in Auckland, and there was also a good demand for coastal vessels.. Mr. Anderson had vivid memories of the shipping of : the harbour. He took particular delight- in recalling the beautiful' warships which formerly frequented the AVaitemata, and could* remember the spar drill on ships night and morning. For his service in the Maori. War, Air. Anderson held the New Zealand medal and the Volunteers’ Long Service medal. He was an enthusiastic volunteer and rose to the rank of lieutenant in the engineers. He rememberzed the wreck of the Orpheus on the Alanukau Bar. At one time, lie was fighting the Alaoris on the.hills at the back of Papakura. On several occassions he made trips in the warships and he was with the expeditions of the Miranda and other vessels to the Firth of Thames to forestall expected-trquS>le with the Maoris. . , • Mr. Anderson went to sea for'a?few trips and was twice in China. The first occasion was in 1868, in the- ship‘ Whirlwind,' which returned to Port Chalmers with a number of Chinese,, who had been attracted by the goldfields. On the next trip made . from' China, there were 240-Chinese on board. (-ii-.lj. , After learning the trade of shipwright, Air. Anderson went to Sydney in 'a, brig which, was; built 1 at -Little Omaha, that spot* being chosen as thb necessary timber was handy. He recejv- ■ ed some engineering experience in .Syd; noy and then moved to Alalden Island, where he remained for over, two year’s in charge of <the landing Service. , For the loading of guano from the island, the visiting vessels were obliged . to stand off-shore and loading was a somewhat hazardous business. From Afalden Island, Afri Anderson went to Christchurch, where he was in charge of some important engineering jobs, such as bridges and river protec; tion works. ' For some time he was caretaker of the Christchurch Cathedral tower and spire, and, in 1883 became . verger. " After leaving Christchurch, Air. Anderson spent 14 years at Napier, latexreturning tb Auckland.' • -111—.....■■.1...