CAPTAIN BUXTON RETIRES

Hokitika Guardian, 7 September 1931, Page 6

CAPTAIN BUXTON RETIRES

WELLINGTON, September 4

After nearly half a century at sea, of which over thirty-four years were spent in the service of the Union Steam Ship Company, .in .which he held command of ships for twenty-one years, Captain George M. Ruxton has retired with the intention of settling ashore at Sydney.

A native of 'New Zealand, George ißuxton went to sea at an early age, sailing with his father, who successive-, ly commanded the topsail schooner Spray and .the brigantine Endeavour in the Lyttelton-Hokitfka trade. After gaining his second mate’s certificate, young Ruxton served several years -in sailing ships, trading, to various parts of the world. He passed for his master’s certificate at Wellington and entered the service of the Union" Company on November 2, 1895, when he was appointed fourth officer of tlie first Monowai.

Captain Ruxton received his first appointment to a command on November 19, 1910, when he became master of the Kaitangata, in which he had -been chief officer for some months. During the last twenty-one years Captain Ruxton has commanded no- fewer than twenty'six of the Union Company’s steamers. He served the war period ini command of the Ivanna which, for four years and a half, was a collier for the Commonwealth navy.