CAPTAIN OF THE MATUA IS TO
“SWALLOW THE ANCHOR”
AUCKLAND, Last Night (PA).— Thirty-seven years ago a junior deck officer of the old steamer Niagara caught his first glimpse of New Zealand. Today the same man, now Captain A. R. Russell, commander of the Matua, took his ship out of Auckland bound for the Islands on his last voyage. When he returns after Christmas he will “swallow the anchor” and leave the Matua’s bridge for his Remuera home and garden. “I’m the only one left now out of the Niagara’s deck officers," he said before he sailed “I’ve had 49 years at sea and 37 with the Union Steam Ship Co. running out of New Zealand.”
Captain Russell first took command of the Matua in 1942 as a relieving master, assuming full command in 1944. In spite of the war the Matua maintained her Pacific voyages,, and it is said missed only one call at Apia, Western Samoa, when she was warned a Japanese warship was waiting for her.
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Bibliographic details
Wanganui Chronicle, 8 December 1950, Page 6
Word Count
169CAPTAIN OF THE MATUA IS TO Wanganui Chronicle, 8 December 1950, Page 6
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