PILOT STATION.
TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —"Poneke" in his letter this morning states that he is sorry that Captain Davies has sailed, and left him in the dark. Poor fellow! Therefore, I will try to enlighten him. With reference to the ship Weymouth, I adhere to my former statement, and deny having made the one " Poneke" credits me with. As to the letters written by Captain Mitchell of the Langstone, I am of opinion that if the statements had been facts they would have been printed I can, however,' inform "Poneke," that I reported the circumstances to head-quarters, and that Captain Mitchell was requested, both by letter and verbally, to report'the circumstances attending the arrival of his ship at this port officially, which he refused to do. 1 feel obliged to "Poneke" for allowing that I did board the Strathnaver outside the reef if the Court said so. As to the barque Gloucester, she arrived on the 3rd May, IS7O, more than five years ago. If " Poneke" will kindly refer to his books, he will find the date correct, and it was two months before I was stationed at the Heads. " Poneke" also is of opinion that the Government ought not to allow their servants to • enter into a newspaper war. , I can assure him that I am always sorry to be compelled to rush into print, but it is the only way in which I can correct such statements as those made by " Poneke." If this gentleman would come forward and give his proper name like *a man, there woxild, perhaps, be no necessity to have recourse to the papers at all. Or if " Poneke " has any charge of neglect on my part to make, why does he not make it to the Government, instead of writing anonymously to the Tress as he is doing. "Poneke's" recommending a cutter for the pilot service, proves his utter ignorance of the subject he is handling. I trust that "Poneke's concluding remarks will not be realised here, although such mishaps do occur at the best regulated ports, and, I may remark, are much more likely to occur through masters—strangers to the port—running their ships in without a pilot, hoping thereby to save a few shillings or to gain a little notoriety, than by adopting the usual means to obtain the services of a pilot. The Eorl of Southesk is a case in point. This vessel became a total wreck in a few minutes, which could hardly have happened had the captain availed himself of the pilot's services.—l am, &c, Lancelot Holmes. Pilot. [This correspondence must now be considered' closed.]
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18750521.2.17
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4421, 21 May 1875, Page 2
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437PILOT STATION. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4421, 21 May 1875, Page 2
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