LION OF SCOTLAND 2

LION OF SCOTLAND PAGE 120

Colin had a cousin, John "Captain" McKenzie, master of a barque that traded frequently to Auckland. John was famous for his seamanship; and one day, in a moment of exhilaration, he brought his ship in under sail and berthed her unassisted against the outer tee of the wharf. It was a manoeuvre that called for sound judgement, and eventually word of it reached Colin.

The wharf was different in design from the massive concrete structures of the present day. In addition to the outer tee, there were births projecting at right angles to it's main length, a fact that Colin knew well. At the time he was master of the Robin Hood, the last brig to trade between Australia and New Zealand. On her next visit to Auckland, the Robin Hood, also under sail and without assistance, came smoothly to the wharf to tie up, not at the outer tee, but at one of the inside berths nearer to the shore. No comment was necessary. Every seaman knew that if John McKenzie had made an error, he could have continued safely up the harbour; but if Colin had been guilty of bad judgement, his ship would have crashed into the main body of the wharf.