52 YEARS AT SEA

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 238, 5 July 1944, Page 3

52 YEARS AT SEA

Retirement Of Captain J. McMahon The retirement of Captain Joseph AlcAlahou after 19 years’ service with the Wellington Harbour Board marked, the end of an interesting seafaring career or 52 years. Born in Glasgoxy, it was after working I*l months in a jeweller’s shop in that city that the call of the sea came to him as a youngster. In company with a chum, he ran away to Liverpool, but, unable to get a ship there, he returned to Glasgow, where he shipped in the Norwegian barque Adelgunde in 189... The barque was hound for Nova fecotia, but after battling North Atlantic gales for weeks, her master decided to go to the Baltic, where she loaded a cargo of timber in a Swedish port On Ins return io Glasgow, young McMahon was apprenticed by bis father in the barcinc Pass of Lcny, in which lie served Unfour years and eight -months. being then well “out of bis time,”, he left the I’ass of Leny at Taltal (Chile), and returned to Britain in the barque Valdivia. The latter ship was commanded by Captain Thorburn, who xvas master of the four-masted barque Dundotiald, and was drowned witli many of his crew when she was wrecked on the Auckland Islands in 1907. , Having gained his second mates certificate. Captain Alc.Mahon came out to New Zealand in the Shaw, Savill and .-Vlbioti Company's ship Auckland. He then sailed for two years as second mate in the barque G. Al. Tucker, and later for 13 months as male in. the barque Helen Denny, both ships being then wellknown intercolonial traders. After a period with the Union Steam. Ship Company in the TVainui and Rotoiti, Captain AlcMahon joined the service of the Nexv Plymouth Harbour Board aud became master of the dredge Paritutu, m which lie remained for 15 years. He entered the service of the 11 ellington Harbour Board in May, .1925, as mate of the dredge IVhakarire, of which he became master in December of that year. In October, 1935, he was appointed master of Hie tug Toia. his subsequent service in that vessel alternating with spells as master of the dredger Kerimoana. On Hie eve of his retirement Captain McMahon was farewelled by the members of the board's pilot staff and. presented with a set of books. Captain I. S. Peterson, harbourmaslt'r and chief pilot, in making the presentation, said Captain McMahon was held in esteem and affection by the pilots, who had the greatest respect i'or his ability as .a. tugmaster. In bis handling of the Toia he had never caused any of them a moment of .'mx'it'ty xvbc.n they-were berthing a ship.