SHIP’S CAT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20927, 5 January 1938, Page 11

SHIP’S CAT

BLACKIE OF MATAI REMARKABLE CAREER ENDS “Blackie,” the ship’s cat of the Government lighthouse steamer Matai has ended his remarkable career as a sea traveller. Not content with the constant voyaging around the New Zealand coast in his floating home, he occasionally deserted it to make excursions on other vessels, though he always came back to the Matai.

Over 11 years in the lighthouse service .this fine black cat, with prominent white patches, earned his keep as the official rat-catcher. He was not “on articles,’ ’though there is a precedent for this in connection with the cable steamer Recorder,: formerly the Iris, which included a cat on its official list at a salary of a shilling per month, which went towards providing feline delicacies.

Sometimes Deserted

Although the Matai travels around the whole coast of the Dominion at least four times a year, this did not seem to give "Blackie" sufficient variety, for he sometimes deserted to join another steamer. More than once he walked across from the Matai’s berth in Wellington to the express steamer wharf, not far away, and joined the boat for Lyttelton. Being well known on the waterside, “Blackie” was always made welcome in the fo’c’sle, and, having made the return trip, rejoined his own boat. It is, however, a well authenticated story that the cat, apparently fancying the ratting sport on Lyttelton wharf .went ashore for a few days, with excellent results from the wharfinger’s point of view. Then he climbed back on an express steamer for the trip home. Some of these periodical “desertions” by “Blackie” were not so easily managed, for the Matai was not waiting. The cat left the ship at Westport in 1935, and the crew gave him up, because the Matai was not due in Wellington again for five weeks. When she tied up at the “home” wharf “Blackie” was waiting.

Adventure in Auckland

Even more remarkable was the cat’s adventure in Auckland, where it went ashore as the ship was leaving for Wellington, being due there seven days later. Again “Blackie” was waiting to walk aboard when the gangway was put down, and the puzzling point about this return was that during the seven days no ship had sailed from Auckland for Wellington. How did the cat manage to make the journey? It could only be assumed that this intelligent animal knew there was a good train service between the two cities, and took advantage of it; in fact, there was someone who declared at the time that he saw “Blackie” in the Auckland station yard. The deserting habit grew as the cat got older, and a recent absence extended to nine weeks. A ship’s cat is not merely a luxury, and the crew therefore secured two in “Blackie’s” place. One was found to be quite unsuitable, and ceased its voyaging. Then, after nine weeks, “Blackie” walked aboard in Wellington looking in fine condition ,and proceeded to settle down, after making things so uncomfortable for his rival that he was soon left once more In sole possession.

Painless Passing

Recently there were signs of old age, the cat finding difficulty in masticating its food. Reluctantly, the ship’s company arranged for its painless disposal, for life had ceased to be a round of pleasant jaunts for “Blackie,” and he must have exhausted the proverbial nine lives of his tribe. His loss was regretted, for he had other distinctive qualities besides that of varied travelling. He was quite indifferent to the usual method of approach, ignoring anyone who called “Puss, puss,” but showing signs of interest if addressed in rougher terms by a masculine voice.