DEATH OF VETERAN SKIPPER.

Shannon News, 12 February 1929, Page 4

DEATH OF VETERAN SKIPPER.

CAPTAIN DONALD McLEAN. MASTER OFH.M.S. MAHENO. One of the grand old veterans of the sea, Captain Donald McLean, died in Auckland on Monday at the age of 72. He first shipped as a boy, and until his retirement eight years ago continuously followed a seafaring career (says the Herald). For 40 years he was in the Union Steam Ship Company’s service. Captain McLean was born in the island of Tiree, off the coast of Argyleshire, the home of many sailors, and at an early age was on sailing craft between Scotland and America,- chiefly to Quebec and the Gulf of Mexico. His first trip to the Southern Hemisphere was in the Loch Rannoek, of the famous Loch Line, and later he served in some of the* Shaw-Savill clippers running between New Zealand and Britain, one of them being the speedy Taranaku Intimates of ,those days knew him as “Dan,” a matter that might now cause doubt as to identity. Service in Rotomahana. When Captain McLean transferred to steam he selected a. notable ship, the Rotomahana, then the pride of the southern oceans, and in her he got his ticket, rising to the position of chief officer before leaving her. Captain Underwood, her original master, was in command when he joined her, and he was also with Captain Carey. Captain McLean served in a number of the Union Steam Ship Company’s vessels as mate, among them being the Taviuni, on which he was associated with Captain R. Smith for five years in the South Sea Island trade. His first command was the little Maori, then en gaged in the inter-Island-Fiji trade, and later he was master of the Poherua, of the coastal and South Sea trade, the Navua, the Taviuni and the Manapouri. When the Waitemata was built he went to Britian and brought her out on her first voyage. Upon the outbreak of war Captain McLean assumed command of the transport Moeraki, which took pa?t of the New Zealand Force to Samoa, and he then took over the hospital ship Maheno, with which he evacuated many thousands of sick and wounded soldiers from Anzae, Gallipoli, to New Zealand, Alexandria and Malta, and later from Havre to Southampton. He was in command of the Maheno until the vessel’s final voydge when he had to go ashore for an operation. Commodore of the Company.

lu 1920 Captain MeLean was in command of the Mokoia, which carried a Parliamentary party to the Cook Island and Samoa, and just before his retirement he had charge of the Niagara on one trip to Vancouver, and flew his pennant as commodore of the company.

Captain McLean, whose career was free from any serious shipping mishap, was a strong, lovable man, of exceptionally fine physique. An old-fash-ioned Highland grace of manner added charm to his character and he was a favourite figure in every port where he -was known. His command of the Maheno when she was a hospital ship was full of anxiety and difficulty which added years to his age.