OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 153, 24 March 1939, Page 10

OBITUARY

Captain J. B. Rainey A former joint manager of the Port Line, Captain James Barton Rainey, died at his residence, Lower Hutt, on Wednesday. Captain Rainey was very well known in "shipping circles in New Zealand, and came of a seafaring stock, his father being a captain. Born at sea, in the Indian Ocean, in 1565, Captain Rainey was educated in England. He was apprenticed in a legal office, but the sea called strongly and the dry routine of a legal office lasted only a few months. Serving his apprenticeship under sail, Captain Rainey afterward joined the Shaw, Savili Company and visited Wellington in the early ’eighties. Some time before 1900 he joined the Huddart, Parker Company and commanded the first Westralia and the Whnmera.

In 1902, he joined the Ty-ser Line, which had its headquarters in Napier, and shortly afterward he became the company’s marine superintendent. The company was later known as the Commonwealth and Dominion Line, which was subsequently merged with the Cunard Company, becoming the Port Line, of which Captain Rainey was joint manager in New Zealand till his retirement in 1928.

Captain Rainey resided iu Auckland till 1904, and in Napier till 1916. He then removed to Lower Hutt, where he remained till 1928, when, being a keen’’ angler, he left to reside in Taupo, returning to Lower Hutt in 1936.

In Ills early days Captain Rainey had an adventurous career. For a time he gave up the sea and joined his brother in a cotton-growing venture in Texas, where he also worked on railway construction works. At another time he was navigator to an expedition which penetrated for a considerable distance into the wilds of West Africa, and his diary of this expedition contains thrifling narratives of dangers from wild beasts and other sources. Three or four weeks ago Captain Rainey, accompanied by Mrs. Rainey, motored to Taupo, and on the return journey he suffered a heart seizure, from which lie did not recover.

Captain Rainey was a member of the Wellesley Club, and of numerous other clubs throughout the Dominion. He is survived by his widow, three sons, Messrs. IV. B. Rainey, 11. J. B. Rainey, and C. 11. J. B. Rainey, and three grandsons. There are two brothers, Captain A. Rainey (retired), England, and Mr. H. Rainey. Johannesburg. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon. Mr. Henry Jervis The death occurred recently in Makara of one of the pioneers of 'Wellington, Mr. Harry Jervis, who arrived in New Zealand on September 6, ISBG, on the ship Coptic, from Shropshire, England, as a young man of 21. Mr. Jervis at first worked for a bricklayer named Travers, but shortly afterward joined the employ of the late Mr. William Moxham at Upland Farm, which is now Kelburn. The Makara estate also belonged to Mr. Moxham. Mr. Jervis went there first as manager, and later purchased the property. Mrs. Jervis, then Miss Prince, from North Staffordshire, followed her husband to New Zealand, travelling in the ship Kaikoura, and arriving at Wellington on December 3, ISS7. The young couple were married at Upland Farm on December 15, 1887, and then went to Makara, where they became successful early settlers. Mr. Jervis leaves his widow, one daughter, Mrs. R. P. Monk, and four sons living. The eldest of the five boys was killed in action on August 8, 1915. Mr. Percy Thomas Jervis, who was with bis brother at the front, is now farming at Reikoraugi. The other three sons are operating the home estate. There are 17 grand-children and two great grand-children,