FROM SEA TO THE CHURCH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19504, 4 February 1926, Page 6

FROM SEA TO THE CHURCH

A CAPTAIN-CLERGYMAN. APPOINTED TO TOLAGA BAY. Captain Walter H. Smith, of Lyall Bay, formerly master of the Union Steam Ship Company’s oil tanker Orowaiti, running bulk oil from California to Wellington, is about to be ordained a minister in the Church of England, and is to take over the parish of Tolaga Bay. A native of Winslow, Cheshire, England, Captain Smith, who is 46 years of age, served his apprenticeship on the barque Embleton, of Liverpool. For many years he was an officer on the Scottish Shire liners running between Britain and New Zealand. During the South African war’ he served on the naval transport staff at Capetown.

On the outbreak of the Great War he was one of the first to volunteer in England for the Royal Navy, and served throughout the war in command of ships, chiefly mine-sweepers, being officer commanding the sweepers for the Holyhead base. He was fourth officer of the steamer Perthshire when she drifted disabled for 45 days in the Pacific about 24 years ago. Some time* ago he was engaged on an extended cruise in and around the Solomon Islands on scientific research, surveying and exploring. After eleven months’ very succesful work he experienced a heavy loss in the wreck of the yacht Canomie in a terrific north-westerly gale. All hands were saved and Captain Smith was exonerated from all blame, and was highly complimented by the Government Commissioner for has courage and untiring energy in saving both lives and goods. He had many thrilling adventures around the islands and was present at several punitive expeditions. He completed his expedition in the large auxiliary schooner Eugenie. Captain Smith is married and has three children. He is probably the first sea captain to join the Church of England ministry in this part of the world.