SEAFARING DAYS OVER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 3, 5 January 1939, Page 8

SEAFARING DAYS OVER

WANGANELLA’S CAPTAIN IN RETIREMENT ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND [ Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Jan. 4. Almost six years to the day oi his introducing the motor-ship Wanganella to Auckland under his command, Captain G. B. Bates came to Auckland as a passenger on the same vessel from Sydney. Captain Bates recently retired from the service of Huddart Parker, Limited, after 36 years, and during a brief stay in New Zealand before returning to Sydney he will take Jzdve of many friends and business acquaintances. “I am going to find it hard for a time leading the life of a landlubber, ' said Captain Bates in an interview. “I have been at sea all my life since I was a boy of 15, and it is going to be strange without the laminar surroundings of my ship. 1 am very proud ol the Wanganella, the commodore ship of the Huddart Parker fleet, because I brought her out here and the Westralia before that." Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Captain Bates made his first visit to New Zealand as ship's boy on the wooden barque, G. M. Tucker. In the past 32 years he has been master of 22 ships, having been in charge of the Wanganella for the past six years. The Wanganella was commanded today by Captain R. Kerr, who has been transterred from the Zealandia to the Westralia. In the meantime he will relieve the new skipper of the Wanganella, Captain Darroch, for about six weeks while he is on holiday.