Mobile Unit. Captain of the Earnslaw

Rights Information
Year
1948
Reference
5751
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Year
1948
Reference
5751
Media type
Audio
Series
Mobile Unit - NZ oral history, 1946-1948
Categories
Interviews (Sound recordings)
Oral histories
Sound recordings
Duration
00:16:37
Credits
RNZ Collection
Herbert, Mr., Interviewee
New Zealand Broadcasting Service. Mobile Recording Unit, Broadcaster

Captain Herbert of the steamship "Earnslaw" describes past shipping services on the lake, shipwrecks, the current steamer service, freight, tourism, and his experiences with distinguished passengers. Mr Beesy joins the interview partway through.

Captain Herbert begins by speaking about the "Ben Lomond", which was first launched in around 1872 - he says there has been a steamer service on Lake Wakatipu ever since then. The Earnslaw is 168 feet long with a speed of 16 knots, compared to the Ben Lomond which was 68 feet long and did about 10 knots. He also mentions the paddle steamer "Mountaineer", scrapped in 1933. Another ship mentioned is the "Red Birch", built on the lake at Kinloch.

The steamers give access to the head of the lake, as there is no road north and north-west of Queenstown. People use the steamers for passage, and to transport supplies and cargo. The cargo includes a lot of sheep and cattle, and once even a 25 seat bus.

Captain Herbert then speaks about the conditions on the lake. Heavy spray can occur, but in summertime it is usually placid. High 'seas' can happen in March and September, even breaking over the bow of the ship. The lake level, rain, and snow can all affect the conditions for travel on the lake. The record rise that he remembers is 12 inches overnight (from an already high lake), resulting in the water level rising higher than the Queenstown wharf.

He recalls taking the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Lord Craighaven, and Lady Craighaven to Glenorchy and Paradise. Another distinguished passenger was the Duke of Gloucester, from Kingston to Queenstown. Governors General have also travelled with him, including Lord and Lady Bledisloe, and Sir Cyril Newall. Captain Herbert is the officer in charge of the whole service fleet in Queenstown. Part of his job is to look after distinguished visitors when they come.

His duties with the Tourist Department include making sure tramping tracks and huts are in good order for the tramping season. He speaks about various routes, and praises the beauty of the Dart Valley.

He says that in the early days when smaller sailing craft of about 30 or 40 feet were used (before steam vessels), a couple of these small boats were lost with all hands. There is also a ship named "Mystery", which he says still is a mystery as it has never been located since hitting rocks and going down. She had set out from Bob's Cove for Glenorchy, but was never heard of again and no trace of the wreckage was found.

He then gives details about the lake, which is 1000 feet above sea level. The bed of the lake is 1250 feet, making the bottom of the lake 250 feet lower than sea level. He says that the lake 'breathes' every twenty minutes, with the rise and fall of the lake about four inches - this is especially marked when the water level is high, and it can cease entirely when the level is low. He says some other lakes breathe, but not all, and gives Lake Taupo as an example of another that does.

Mr Beesy then joins the interview. He speaks about the road from Kingston to Queenstown, which was opened in around 1936. Prior to that, passengers from the south came to Kingston by the Kingston Express train, and were then transported on the Earnslaw from Kingston to Queenstown. He says in those days there was a saloon on the boat, and dinner was served onboard. Mr Beesy and Captain Herbert then discuss and compare steamer services and road transport. The bus service can be very quick, but the boat trip is enjoyable.

Captain Herbert then talks about how the crew of the Earnslaw will spend Christmas Day. He says it will an ordinary work day, starting in Queenstown picking up the mail and passengers for Kingston. At Kingston the passengers and mail will go onto the train - sometimes there are two trains. A midday Christmas meal for the ship master and crew is usually put on at the hotel at Kingston. They depart from Kingston in the afternoon and are usually back in Queenstown around half past six to discharge cargo and passengers with their luggage. The crew will finish up around eight in the evening, and will head home to their families.