CAPTAIN R. E. SMITH

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1940, Page 3

CAPTAIN R. E. SMITH

VETERAN MARINER DEAD Well known as a master mariner and a veteran of the Union Steam Ship Company's service, Captain Richard Edward Smith, Wanganui Avenue, Herne Bay, Auckland, died on Saturday at the age of 92. He joined the Union Company's service In 1877, two years after the company was founded, and he remained continuously with it for 34 years. With two short breaks, additional periods of employment brought the total to nearly 40 years. Over his service he commanded some 50 of the company s vessels. In all, he spent 66 years at sea. Born in Cornwall, he was a son of Captain Richard Smith, shipping owner and master. He went to sea at the age of 13, and in his early youth served On ships plyi'ng in the Indian and West Indian trades. Following the discovery of gold in Australia and New Zealand, he came to New Zealand in 1870 in the ship Queen Bee, and for a time worked on coastal vessels. A brief and unsuccessful venture on the Otago and West Coast gold diggings followed," after which he rejoined the service of the Union Steam Ship Company.

Captain Smith's first command was the Bcautiful Star. For a while he was captain of the Takapuna, and then for a longer period he commanded the Taiaroa, on which he had some time previously served as first officer. Captain Smith spent about ten years in the Westport and Greymouth coal and timber trade, and his ship, the Taiaroa, was the first vessel to berth alongside Timaru breakwater after its construction in the "eighties. For seven years in the Taviuni he was engaged in the South Seas Islands trade. The Taviuni was the first vessel to go alongside the Napier breakwater. This was in 1893. Other well-known vessels of which he was master before his retirement from the company s seivice in 1911 were the Talune, Mararoa and Mokoia. After his retirement, Captain Smith was recalled in the Great War period, when he commanded for diflerent periods 22 steamers. He took the Warrimoo to the Straits Settlements in the course of hostilities, sailing in a danger zone when a raider was known to be about. For his services he received two Admiralty decorations. After his final retirement from commands, Captain Smith actcd as a coastal pilot for some years. Over his long career he ncver lost a ship nor had an accident with one. He made his home in Auckland in 1890. He leaves a widow and a son, Mr. Edward Smith, and there are two grandchildren.