Captain Roberts - Alice Archer's Father
In 1886, Thomas Roberts sailed to New Zealand serving on the Union Steamship Company vessel, Rotomahana. He left a Kentish home at the early age and by 18 had served as a seaman on the Evangeline and Leonidas before setting sail for the Americas and onto foreign ports. At 26 the young Englishman's reputation as a 'sober and highly respectable gentaleman' began to establish himself. Not surprisingly his career in a new land progressed rapidly - first officer on the Tarawera, acting master on the Wakatipu and Mahinapua and in 1899 a promotion to master of the Orowaiti.
At this stage of his career, Captain Roberts was married with four children and although based in New Plymouth, the Trans Tasman voyages meant prolonged absences at sea which complicated family life. In 1906 he applied for the position of cpatain on the Government tourist steamer Tawera at Te Anau, transporting tourists to Glade House to walk the Milford Track. The family arrived in Te Anau on 6 November 1906. This allowed the captain to familarise himself with the area before commencing duties in the New Year. The wages paid for the new position was 1.2 pound per month.
His wife was quite distraught and wrote to her sisiter describing Te Anau as 'the very end of the earth'. After the bustle of New Plymouth it was quite traumatic and the town cosisted of a pub and little more than three houses. It took two days to obtain the services of a doctor and his visit, only in dire need cost 12 pounds. Bread was then 3d per loaf and cartage ont he mail coach to Te Anau costs 1/- per loaf. The family therefore became self sufficient, hens, cows, horse and dray, a large vegetable garden, home baked bread. They traded for mutton from Lynwood Station, and the family kept a pig - which was usually a wild weaner caught to fatten,
Captain Roberts ran his like a ship divided into watches. Each of the children had their own duties and all were taught navigation from their formative years. With the aid of his compass, sextant and a bowl of water they knew how to plot a course. If lost, they were told wait for the North Star and find your way home. For six months of the year the township was shut off from the outside world. This was when he tutored his family. All the children passed their primary school certificate, the required standard qualification.
Captain Roberts himself was a brillant linguist and spoke several languages fluently. Eminent people throughout the world maintained regular correspondence with him including Sir Thomas McKenzie and Samuel Turner, the American mountaineer
The next change was in 1926 with a move to Invercargill and a return to the sea and the Union Steamship Company as the first mate on the Rotomahana Just as the ship was about to leave Sydney, the captain had a heart attack and Roberts radioed head office. He was told to take command and bring the vessel home, he did and in record time and this record has never been broken.
His last command was the government vessel Hinemoa which was based at Bluff. After retiring he was engaged as a journeyman printer by the Southland Times (now he was in his 70s)
He passed away December 1940 at the age of 80.
At this stage of his career, Captain Roberts was married with four children and although based in New Plymouth, the Trans Tasman voyages meant prolonged absences at sea which complicated family life. In 1906 he applied for the position of cpatain on the Government tourist steamer Tawera at Te Anau, transporting tourists to Glade House to walk the Milford Track. The family arrived in Te Anau on 6 November 1906. This allowed the captain to familarise himself with the area before commencing duties in the New Year. The wages paid for the new position was 1.2 pound per month.
His wife was quite distraught and wrote to her sisiter describing Te Anau as 'the very end of the earth'. After the bustle of New Plymouth it was quite traumatic and the town cosisted of a pub and little more than three houses. It took two days to obtain the services of a doctor and his visit, only in dire need cost 12 pounds. Bread was then 3d per loaf and cartage ont he mail coach to Te Anau costs 1/- per loaf. The family therefore became self sufficient, hens, cows, horse and dray, a large vegetable garden, home baked bread. They traded for mutton from Lynwood Station, and the family kept a pig - which was usually a wild weaner caught to fatten,
Captain Roberts ran his like a ship divided into watches. Each of the children had their own duties and all were taught navigation from their formative years. With the aid of his compass, sextant and a bowl of water they knew how to plot a course. If lost, they were told wait for the North Star and find your way home. For six months of the year the township was shut off from the outside world. This was when he tutored his family. All the children passed their primary school certificate, the required standard qualification.
Captain Roberts himself was a brillant linguist and spoke several languages fluently. Eminent people throughout the world maintained regular correspondence with him including Sir Thomas McKenzie and Samuel Turner, the American mountaineer
The next change was in 1926 with a move to Invercargill and a return to the sea and the Union Steamship Company as the first mate on the Rotomahana Just as the ship was about to leave Sydney, the captain had a heart attack and Roberts radioed head office. He was told to take command and bring the vessel home, he did and in record time and this record has never been broken.
His last command was the government vessel Hinemoa which was based at Bluff. After retiring he was engaged as a journeyman printer by the Southland Times (now he was in his 70s)
He passed away December 1940 at the age of 80.
Alice Thomas (Stud) Victor (Power)
My Grandfather, Captain Roberts, (Mums father) and I about 1938 , Tay Street, Invercargill.
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Robin and Rayna riding on Caps back
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