Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Captain John Christian

Captain John Christian, of the Blackball Coal Company's s.s. “Pareora,” was appointed to the command of that vessel on her arrival in the Colonies in December, 1896. He was born in Denmark in 1835, went to sea at the age of sixteen, and was engaged in the collier trade out of North Shields till 1855, when he went to India in the P. and O. Company's boat, “Madras.” in 1859 he came to New Zealand “before the mast” on the “Zealandia,” and left his vessel in November of that year to engage in the coastal trade of the Colony. Captain Christian took command of the s.s. “Moa” when that vessel was launched. He subsequently had charge of the three-masted schooner “Rifleman,” which was captured by Te Kooti and his fellow-prisoners when they escaped from the Cuatham Islands in 1868. Captain Christian was in charge of the “Bruce” in trading to the West Coast. The old Harbour Company (the nucleus of the present Union Steamship Company) had Captain Christian in its service for several years, and he was in turn in the “Beautiful Star,” “Maori,” “Wanganui,” and other vessels of the fleet. From 1873 he sailed the barque “Hadda,” between China and the Australasian Colonies, for two years. Captair Christian then purchased the brigantine “Wave” and sailed her in the intercolonial trade, but disposed of her to take charge of the “Vision” for the Kauri Timber Company, Auckland, and for eight years he traded between New Zealand and Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. Captain Christian joined the Blackball Coal Company's service in 1894, when he took command of the s.s. “Hesketh,” and was promoted to his present position two years later.

Captain J. Christian.

Captain J. Christian.