Golden Forest

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 614, 16 March 1929, Page 9

Golden Forest

Ship of Interesting Personalities BO’S'N A NOVELIST A skipper who can look back on over 40 years spent at sea in ships ranging from windjammers to warships, a parrot which speaks two languages, and takes a cold shower every day. and a boatswain who writes novels as a hobby, are only some of the interesting things about the American steamer Golden Forest now lying at Central Wharf. Strangely enough. Captain Drcwson first trip on a merchant vessel was from Dunedin on the brigantine Camille in 1888. Captain Drewson also served in the United States Navy during the war, and gained distinction. lie was a lieutenant-commander. “PRETTY BOY,” THE PARROT The vessel boasts a parrot of a rare species. Ho belongs to the second engineer, Mr. Brady, and is known as “Pretty Boy.” He is a bird with exceptionally beautiful plumage a M • can Yellow-head “1 paid £7 for him. said Mr. Brady, “but I would not sell him for £2O, for he is a real companion. He talks and thinks like u human being. “Pretty-boy’’ Is omnivorous, lor besides his staple food, sunflower seeds, he eats with avidity grapefruit. p€‘ars, oranges, cold chicken, beef, toast and anything else that comes his way- He talks both Lngli and Spanish-Mexican, and takes a cold shower every day—not always volunUUI 'NOT THE SAME BREWER Mr. E. Brewer, tlio third officer, holds that third officers named Brewer ars anathema to the authorities in Angola (Portuguese West Africa). He referred to the recent incident when a British third officer named Brewer was airested at Lobito Bay on a charge of theft, and imprisoned for nine months before being tried. “When I was ashore at Ba-j Paulo do Loanda in Angola,” said Mr. Brewer. I was arrested by four Portuguese soldiers for not removing my hat during the passing of a religious eereI monial procession.” Next morning, j when he explained to the Portuguese : judge that he was in the habit of reI moving his hat in a church, but not ! outside, he was told not. to come ashore ! again on th© pain of arrestBOATSWAIN WAS NOVELIST The boatswain. Mr. A. H. Miller, has had an interesting career. He left school at the age of 12 and commenced his nautical experiences as a deck hand on a Great Lakes cargo steamer. From that h© went to ocean-going windjammers, and finally steamers. At times, tiring of the sea, he has worked in lumber camps and quarries. Tie spent some time writing novels, with which he had great success. Mr. Miller still pursues his literary work as a hobby.