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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Captain David John Shaw

Captain David John Shaw, Master Mariner and Shipowner, Auckland. Captain Shaw was born in Queensland in 1868, and came to New Zealand with his parents when he was three months old. His family settled at the Thames, and were the first to live in a weather-board cottage at Tararu. Captain Shaw received his early education at the Thames, and having a natural liking for the sea, entered upon a seafaring life at the age of thirteen. He studied hard, as he was ambitious to rise in the profession he had adopted, and at the age of nineteen had mastered the principles of navigation sufficiently to enable him to successfully pass his examination as male. Shortly afterwards he purchased the schooner “Atalanta” and ran her in the intercolonial trade for about seven years. In 1895 he took charge of the steamer “Ngunguru” for a short time, and subsequently purchased and assumed command of the “Sturt.” This vessel was wrecked at Kennedy's Bay after Captain Shaw had left her to resume command of the “Atalanta.” He eventually sold the latter vessel, and accepted the captaincy of the paddle steamer “Terranora, in which he purchased an interest. This steamer ran for some time daily between Auckland and the Thames, and afterwards to Whakatane and Tauranga. In 1898, he resigned the position of master, and temporarily retired from a seafaring life to enjoy a well-earned rest. He still retains an interest in, the “Terranora,” and also owns the schooner “Croydon Lass.” Captain Shaw has been the means of saving several lives in the vicinity of Auckland; namely, that of a boy at Devonport in 1893, that of a girl at the graving dock in Auckland in 1895, and still more recently that of a man who fell off the Queen Street wharf; but, so far, the Humane Society has in no way recognised his bravery.

Hnna, photo.Captain D. J. Shaw.

Hnna, photo.Captain D. J. Shaw.