VETERAN MARINER

NZ Truth, Issue 1239, 29 August 1929, Page 6

VETERAN MARINER

CAPTAIN WILLIAM A. WILDMAN has sailed the seas for over half a century, and for 53y 3 years he has served Avith the Anchor Company. During.that long period of time he has commanded most of the company's vessels, and he has become the best known and most popular master on the NeAV Zealand coastr Storms and fogs have no terror for the old skipper, and Avhen many a larger vessel has sought the shelter oE a bay the little "Kaitoa," Avith Captain Wildman at the Avheel, has braved the , fury of Cook Straits. One of the vessels Avhich he commanded gained the nickname of "ghost of the straits." Fair Aveather or, foul, that little steamer, AA'ith Avhite super-structure and funnel, kept up a ferry service between Wellington and Nelson, and many a skipper of an ocean-going liner must have . blinked'in astonishment at the audacity of the little white' steamer he passed m a raging storm. - ■ ■ ' ■