Obituaries Australia

Captain John Benjamin Munns, who died at his residence, Booth-street, Annandale, on Wednesday, aged 80 years, was a native of London, and went to sea at the age of 14 years. He obtained his master's certificate when 28 years old, and served on shipping routes from New Zealand to Australia, and to Fiji and Samoa, for 55 years. He confined himself to sailing vessels, among them were the Senorita Northern Chief (which he took to America), Cathetaham, Moonah, Kathkit, and Midget. He was in charge of the Cathetaham when she capsized at her anchorage in Newcastle Harbour in 1911, but no lives were lost. He was also the master of the Kathkit, which was lost for 58 days in 1924, having been blown off the coast by a great gale, when carrying a cargo of poles from Tasmania for the Melbourne Harbour Trust. He is survived by his widow, four sons, and four daughters. The remains were interred at Botany general cemetery yesterday morning. Services at the home and the graveside were conducted by the Rev H. G. Hercus.