Death of Captain

Thomas V. Hill Well-known Pacific Shipmaster

ONE of the best-known sea-captains in the Pacific, Captain Thomas V. Hill, died in Vancouver recently, at the age of 61. He served his apprenticeship in South Pacific sailing ships, and he was a member of the crew of the Government steamer trading in the Cook Islands, where he was a popular figure. He was in the barque Royal Tar when she was wrecked in the Hauraki Gulf in 1901.

Shortly after securing his second officer’s ticket, Captain Hill joined the Union Company and was appointed fourth officer of the Manuka in 1905. He was chief officer of the Moura in 1910, and was appointed to the command of the Komata five years later. Other vessels he commanded were the Karori, Atua, Navua, and the first Kurow and Waim arino. In the Pacific service, after 1923, Captain Hill commanded the Waikawa, Waitemata, Wairuna and Hauraki be fore being transferred to the passenger vessels Tahiti and Marama and the tanker Otokia.

Captain Hill was in command of the Niagara from 1927 to 1935, except for periods when he relieved in the Aorangi and the Monowai. On the retirement of Captain J. F. Spring-Brown, in 1936, he took over the command of the Aorangi and remained there until he was relieved last vear because of illness. With Mrs.

Hill he settled in Vancouver towards the end of last year. He is survived by his wife and a married daughter in Sydney.