CAPTAIN COLIN McDONALD

NOTE: this article refers to Mr Miller, it was in fact Mr Millar.

CAPTAIN COLIN McDONALD

We give this week a continuation of portraits of captains hailing from Waipu, the first installment of which appeared in a recent "Graphic". Captain Colin McDonald, of the fine steamship Euryalus (Currie line, Melbourne), has from a small holding at Waipu pushed himself to the front rank of seamen, and for some five years past had charge of the abovenamed fine steamship of some 3000 tons register - till very recently one of the largest of the Austrailan-owned vessels.

Going to sea some 28 years ago, he rose step by step, passing the various examinations of second mate, first mate, and captain as soon as he had served the necessary time at sea. From master of a small coasting vessel he gained command of vessels in the intercolonial trade, his last being the well-known brigantine Stanley, which vessel he left in Melbourne to take charge of Mr Miller's fully-rigged ship Hersey, trading as far as British Columbia.

His next step was in command of the auxiliary steam yacht Sadie, of nearly 400 tons, for the same owner, undoubtedly the finest of the yachting fleet in the Australian colonies and equal to a great many of the Royal Yacht Squadron in England. Captain McDonald was always treated by the late Mr Miller as a personal friend, and took the owner through the South Sea Islands on to China and Japan in the Sadie, finally taking the Sadie to England via the cape. Mr Miller going home by steamer via "Frisco" from Japan.

Captain Colin McDonald had the honour of receiving the then Price of Wales (now king Edward VII) on board the Sadie to lunch in Portsmouth. She was then sent on a trip through the German Ocean, going far far north in search of the ill-fated explorer, Andre. Mr Miller then sold the Sadie, and Captain McDonald came out sailing master of Lord Brassey's yacht Sunbeam, when his Lordship was appointed Governor of Victoria.

Some time after arriving in Melbourne he resigned to take charge of one of the Currie steamers, and as before stated, has now been in the Euryalus some five years. His usual voyages are Sydney and Melbourne to Madras and Calcutta, returning to Australia either by way of Singapore or Colombo. Probably none of the Waipu captains are better known or more respected than Captain "Colin", and his many Auckland friends will no doubt be glad to see his portrait, and to know that he is well, and has hopes of visiting New Zealand in one of the larger of the Currie steamers in the near future, as we learn that it is the intention of that firm to include New Zealand regularly in the round trips of some of their larger steamers.

The subject of our sketch is related to the greater number whose pictures were presented last week, his father, two brothers, two uncles and numerous first cousins being among the list. Capt McDonald is as unassuming as when he was sailing out of Auckland as master of a 60-ton trading schooner, and some two years ago, with his wife, an Auckland lady, spent a pleasant month's holiday among the scenes of his early days.