Untitled

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 159, 19 August 1892, Page 4

Just twenty years ago we had the pleasure of occupying a bunk in the same forecastle as ‘ Jack Bone,’ it was in the good ship City of Auckland, under Captain W„ Ashby, Jack Bone was then an ordinary seaman and we scarcely that, as it was our first long voyage in a sea going vessel, It was also our last and on leaving we handed our ‘ Nome's Epitome’ to our shipmate Jack Bone. Time passed on and we noted with pleasure the upward steps of our friend from vessel to vessel, till he was appointed to the command of the fine direct steamer Tongarii'o, and we read with feelings of pride for our friend and for New Zealand enterprise the remarks made at the meeting of the New Zealand Shipping Company when his appointment was referred to. As far as we remember it was said that in appointing Captain Bone to the command of the Tongariro the Directors had confidence in his ability and added with some pride that Captain Bone was the first of those who had grown up in the service of the Company to be placed in such an important position. By the arrival of the Bnshine in Auckland we are again reminded of the rapid advances being made by our Colony and its sons. The Ruahme, the latest, acquisition to the already splendid fleet of the New Zealand Shipping Company] is both a passenger and freight steamer ofl enormous capacity, and is the largest ship of any class that lias yet visited New Zealand. A steamer that registers 6,-27 tons gross and carries 400 passengers and many thousands of tons of cargo besides is a vast advance on the Anglo-Neiv Zealand trader of twenty years ago, and we congratulate Captain John Bone in his appointment to this largest and latest of the New r Zealand Company’s vessels. From the successful career of Captain John Boue from the lowest positions of sailor life to the highest, attained by r constant service in the one New Zealand Company, the youth of our country may be filled ” with hope, for what lias been done by one can be done by another.