Forty Years In Pilot Service of Wellmgton

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 28, 23 December 1938, Page 4

Forty Years In Pilot Service of Wellmgton

oaunuens PORTY: years ago Wellington people would often see an ‘open whaleboat battling against wind and wave off Pencarrow Head. The crew of four in the boat were pulling at the oars. In this way Captain William Shilling, radio friend of "Aunt Daisy" who this year called his 90th birthday over the air, began his service as pilot to the Wellington Harbour Board. As a Kentish boy of 14 he had gone into the Navy, left through ill-health, and served on various ‘ships on the coasts of Bnugland, France, the Mediterranean and West Indies. He has seen every mood and temper of the sea; has heen at close quarters with hurricanes and. fever. In 1868 he made his way out to New Zealand, worked on ships on the coust, and then joined the Wellington pilot boat as one of the crew at 5/6 a day. Later, after serving as Master on New Zealand. ships, he was to _ become assistunt-pilot at Wellington Harbour.

During his forty years of service with the board, he saw many days of strain and stress. One tragic incident that, stands out in his memory was the death of Pilot Simms and: two of his men in £889. Thkey had gone out to the Pleione in a southerly. The pifot’s whaleboat, towing behind the suip, was caught in the trough and capsized. Pilot Simms and two men were drowned. Captain Shilling remembers the arrival of the first direct steamer from England to New Zealand, on Marcel: 19, 1883, The ship was the British. King. As she came up off the Hecds she was burning blue lights: and sending up rockets, Under Pilot. Holmes and Captain Shilling, the whale-boat pulled 16 miles to her assistance. Just as they arrived the steamer forged ahead and Iecft them. The small break-down of the engines had been repaired. The whale-boat pulled 16 miles home again. Captain Shilling retired from the board’s service as deputy har-bour-master in 1915, was back in service again tor two years during the war.