The colony's Customs returns and the operations of the Lyttelton Harbour Board set forth, better than anything else could, the extent and conditions of the shipping trade of Canterbury. Valuable information in connection with the Customs is given at pages 28 and 29 of the general introduction to this volume, and the operations of the Lyttelton Harbour Board are described at pages 118 and 119. In the year 1901 New Zealand exported to Great Britain, to Australia, to America, and to Africa, goods valued at £12,692,796 (more or less), and, of that total, Canterbury's share amounted to £3,126,530. Figures like these give a better idea of the shipping trade of Canterbury than could be given by mere details about the shipping itself, and, consequently, it has not been thought necessary to bring these into this section.

The New Zealand Shipping Company, Limited. Head Offices, 138 Leadenhall Street, London, E.C., and Christchurch, New Zealand. Mr. H. P. Murray-Aynsley is Chairman of Directors in New Zealand, and Mr. Isaac Gibbs, General Manager for the Colonies. The New Zealand Shipping Company was founded in Christchurch in 1872 with a capital of £100,000. In the following year the capital was increased to £250,000, and has since been increased to £800,000. Prior to 1872 the trade to and from the Colony was in the hands of two firms; but in that year a combination of merchants and agriculturists in New Zealand formed the company, considering that the time had arrived when their interests demanded the establishment of an independent line. At first the newly-fledged institution had to depend mainly on chartered ships, but gradually it secured a fleet of its own, in which large numbers of passengers were conveyed. Between the years 1877 and 1882, inclusive, when the New Zealand Shipping Company was under contract with the New Zealand Government to carry immigrants from the Old Country, its monthly sailing vessels brought out close on 20,000 immigrants and passengers. In January, 1883, the s.s. “British King,” 3559 tons register, came from London as the pioneer of the company's direct monthly line of steamers. With the object of constructing steamers which would make the passages with regularity under forty-five days out and forty-two days Home, and to facilitate the frozen-meat trade, the company contracted with the firm of Messrs. John Elder and Co., Glasgow, for the building of five steamers all fitted with refrigerating machinery, and chambers capable of carrying 12,000 to 15,000 carcases of mutton, and with accommodation for about eighty first class, eighty second-class, and 250 third-class passengers. the meat chambers have since been enlarged to double the original capacity. The great expansion of trade demanded more accommodation for cargo than was afforded by the mail liners, and the company therefore acquired three cargosteamers—the “Tekoa,” “Otarama,” and “Waikato,” and built the “Waimate” and “Rakaia,” making ten steamers in all, besides chartering a large number of sailing vessels and steamers for homeward loading in addition to the permanent fleet. At present (1902) the company's fleet consists of the following steamships: “Aorangi,” “Miowera,” “Otarama,” “Papanui,” “Paparoa” (twin screw), “Pareora,” “Petone,” “Rakaia,” “Rimutaka” (twin screw), “Ruapehu” (twin screw), “Tekoa,” “Tongariro” (twin screw), “Waikato,” “Waimate,” “Wakanui,” and “Whakatane.”

Mr. Hugh Percy Murray-Aynsley, J.P., Chairman of the New Zealand Directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company, Limited, was born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1828. He came out to Lyttelton in 1858 by the s.s. “Queen,” a vessel purchased by the late Hon. James Macandrew to open up trade between Melbourne and New Zealand. For many years after settling in Christchurch Mr. Murray Aynsley was engaged in business as a partner in the firm of Miles and Co., from which he retired shortly before the firm was incorporated into a limited liability company. Mr. Murray-Aynsley was engaged for many years as a sheep-farmer at Mount Hutt, but afterwards disposed of his landed interest. He joined the New Zealand Shipping Company in 1873, and has been a director since that time. In the days of the Provincial Government he was a member of the executive, and sat as member for Lyttelton in the Provincial Council. In 1869 he acted as deputy-superintendent of the province during Mr. Rolleston's absence in the House of Representatives. He represented Lyttel ton in the General Assembly during 1876–79. Mr. Murray-Aynsley has long been a member of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and at one time filled the position of president. He has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce since 1860, and was president during 1862–3. Mr. Murray-Aynsley was married in 1859 to a daughter of Mr. Thomas Campbell, of Edinburgh. This lady died in 1893, leaving four sons and three daughters.

Mr. P. Murray-Aynsley.

Mr. George Callender, Accountant to the New Zealand Shipping Company, in Christchurch, was born at St. Kilda, Melbourne, in 1861. He was educated at Mr. Gee's Grammar School in Christchurch, joined the service of the Shipping Company as a junor in 1875, and was promoted to the position he now holds in 1888. Mr. Callender has been Honorary Treasurer of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church for twelve years. In 1891 he married a daughter of Colonel Wroughton, C.B., of Her Majesty's Indian Army, Bengal.

Mr. Hamilton Dobbin Hall, Chief Bookkeeper of the New Zealand Shipping Company, was born in Christchurch in 1869, was educated at the Boys' High School and and joined the company as clerk in 1883. He subsequently served in Wellington, Napier, and Oamaru, and was re-transferred to Christchurch in his present capacity in 1896. Mr. Hall was married in 1897 to a daughter of Mr. T. Kennedy, of Oamaru, and has one daughter.

The Union Steam Ship Company Of New Zealand, Limited, 116 Manchester Street, Christchurch. Mr. George Lambie is the Christchurch manager of this important company, which was established in 1877, and has its headquarters in Dunedin. Articles on the company appear at page 791 of the Wellington volume and at page 449 of the Auckland volume of this Cyclopedia; and an article in connection with its headquarters in Dunedin will be found in the Otago volume.

Mr. James W. Dunlop, Chief Engineer of the Union Steamship Company's fine steamer “Hawea,” was born at Dumbarton, Scotland, in 1868, and educated at Dumbarton Bargh Academy. After serving his apprenticeship with Messrs Denny and Co., the celebrated ship-builders, he came to New Zealand in 1887, as fourth engineer of the Union Company's steamer “Pukaki” and remained in her about six months. He was afterwards in the “Rotomahana” and “Ovalau,” and was second engineer on the “Wairarapa” on her fatal trip when she struck on the Great Barrier. Mr. Dunlop's bravery in that awful catastrophe in saving life will long live in the memory of the present generation. For his many acts of hercism he was presented with a silver medal from the Royal Humane Society, and a handsome cheque from the Union Company. He was then appointed second engineer on the “Monowai,” and subsequently in the “Rotomahana.” Mr. Dunlop went Home in 1896 and returned as chief engineer of the company's new steamer “Hawea,” which arrived in New Zealand in April, 1897.

Mr. J. W. Dunlop.

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.

Mr. Harold Dillner, formerly Chief Officer of the s.s. “Hesketh' of the Blackball Coal Company, was born in Sweden in 1845. At the age of fourteen he went to sea and sailed in the Mediterranean and West Indies trade for five years. He joined Messrs Wigram and Co.'s vessel “True Briton,” which was in Australian waters in 1867. Shortly afterwards he joined the brigantine “Magnet,” trading between Grey mouth and other colonial ports Mr. Dillner sailed out of Hobart in charge of the barque “Glencoe,” and subsequently he was captain of the brig “Prairie.” In 1878 he entered Mr C. W. Turner's service, and then that of Messrs Waterson, of Invercargill. He joined the service of the Blackball Coal Company, in 1895, as second officer on the “Hesketh,” and was promoted to be chief in December of the following year.

Mr. H. Dillner.