HARBOUR MASTER FOR TAUPO

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 92, 23 October 1953, Page 5

HARBOUR MASTER FOR TAUPO

A harbour master has been appointed by the Government to carry out for Lake Taupo thq duties usually assigned to such a position. He is Mr B. R. Williamson, formerly of Palmerston North, who was the successful applicant when the appointment was advertised recently. Mr Williamson's headquarters will be! at Taupo, and he will oCcupy the Internal Affairs Department's house on the Landing Reserve at the Waikato Outlet, Taupo. Control over boats and navigation on Lake Taupo is exercised by the Marine Department, for which Department the Internal Affairs Department, whose ofhcersj administer the Taupo Fisheries District, acts as deputy. Those in close touch with boating conditions at Taupq have been for some time 'aware of the need for such an appointment, where the increasing number of boats is already; raising problems of mooring accommodation, berthing and control of speed in the harbour which call for official oversight. The Harbour master's duties will, however, extend to the whole Lake. Mr Williamson, who arrived in Taupo at the end of last week, is a married man,: with two children. He has had ten years service in the Navy, holding the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He was for seven years on the H.M.N.Z.S. Achilles, and was present at the Battle of the River Plate in which the Graf Spee was sunk. Mr Williamson served in the Pacific area, and was attached for some time to the U.S. Navy in the signals branch, serving in the Guadalcanal area on the destroyer Helm. One brother also served in the navy, two in the Air Force and two in the Army.