Jim Weavers’ Poem

This poem written by Jim Weavers was found in one of the Society’s filing boxes. Jim was a well-known captain of the Tangaroa which plied the Lake in the 1920s and 30s.

He was born at Colac Bay in Southland on 3 August 1899 and died, aged 92 on 19 December 1991. He married Reta Margaret Bremner in Wanaka on 15 April 1926.

In the good old days of the 1920's when things were pretty tough,
There came to the shores of Lake Wanaka, a lad to do his stuff.
To run the launches at the ferry service. His name was Weavers, Jim.
A qualified launch master, this work was nothing to him.

He was met on his arrival by Frank Norris, known as Ike,
Who said, "So you're my new skipper. Come down to tea if you like.
They went to the Norris home to meet his homely wife,
And he was thereby told of the ferry company's life.

Jim was taken to the lake front to see the launches that thereby sat,
As he gazed upon the Tangaroa his heart went pit-a-pat.
Ike Norris said, “Jimmy boy, that launch is yours to run
On the mail run to Makarora under the midday sun.”

Next morning the Tangaroa was loaded with goods and passengers alike
Jim set sail for Makarora with his deck-hand known as Mike.
He had not heard of this place, didn't know it existed before
And didn't even know the way to go when he left the Pembroke shore.

So he entrusted the wheel to Mike who knew the way to go,
Said, “I’ll watch directions and look after that scrap iron down below        ‘
By scrap iron he meant the engine which was running like a clock
And said I'll take command just before we dock.”

Jim looking after the ‘scrap iron’

A call was made to Minaret to leave supplies and mail
Then on to the head of the lake and arrived there without fail.
The local postmaster was on hand to greet the boat's arrival,
He shook Jim by the hand and said, “The ship is our survival.”

Skipper Jim and his mate spent the night at the old Pub
Which no longer was known as that, such which was quite a snub,
For Jim had been expecting a gin and bitters to sip
When he arrived at Makarora in the RS Tangaroa ship.

The Tangaroa tied up at Minaret Station jetty

The caretaker and his wife gave them a meal and a room was provided
A pleasant evening was spent by all and a programme was decided.
Next morning the ship was loaded with cream, wool and mail
And amid farewells from the locals for Pembroke they set sail.

The lake was like a sheet of glass upon that memorial day
When Jim was on his initial trip in the Wanaka Ferry Company's pay.
Pembroke was reached without a hitch, with a large crowd on the dock
To see the new skipper berth without a knock.

This life went on for many years on the beautiful Wanaka lake
Ups and downs of trouble was something that Jim could take.
The waters of the lake got rough when winds and gales prevailed
But it could not stop the Tangaroa as on her way she sailed.

Seven years without a miss on that mail run to the head
To go up on days like this, “You're mad” some people said.
But Jim knew his capabilities, and had confidence in his ship
As he made these weekly mail runs without a single slip.

One day Ike Norris said there's a boat wanted for Minaret
He said take the Tinaroa she will be more comfortable you bet
To fetch Dick Spedding, his wife, child and nurse.
As it was Jim's day off he didn't know whether to laugh, cry or curse.

On that windy day something happened Jim will never forget.
As he headed up for Minaret he sure got awfully wet.
For a mighty storm was on hand and he sure got tossed about.
When he finally reached the pier he was welcomed with a shout.

Jim told Dick Spedding it is pretty rough outside the bay.
Perhaps we should wait till tomorrow and not go down today.
I’ve got to go today, said Dick for my bookings are all made
If it was anybody else but you Jim, I believe I would feel afraid.

“All right” said Jim, “if you can take it is all right by me.”
But outside the bay there's a hell of a running sea
The Tinaroa crept out of the bay into a huge northerly gale.
It was a big job to steer the boat, for they did not have a sail.

They were sailing between Pigeon Island and the big rock reef
Jim said the waves are larger to the best of my belief.
When suddenly the boat veered off and gave a mighty shudder,
“By thunder,” Jim said to Spedding, “I think we've lost our rudder!”

And that was what had happened as the boat went broadside on
They were at the mercy of the storm and the passengers were hanging on
Jim slowed the engine and Dick Spedding was alarmed,
Jim said there's no need to worry for my life it sure is charmed.

The Tinaroa at Pidgeon Island (now known as Mou Waho)

Now Jim’s experience came to the fore, it was something he did not lack
And he used the engine mighty as the boat began to tack.
To reach the lee of island was one great big job on hand
And after a lot of manoeuvres Jim got to the shelter of the land.

The anxiety was over and Jim gave a great big sigh,
Mrs Spedding said we must have had guidance from on high
The passengers were landed on a beautiful sandy beach
A fire was lit thereon as we were really out of reach.

They spent the night in the cabin of that comfortable little ship
There was no sleep for anyone as we listened to the windy rip
The morning dawned with the storm still at its height.
Jim told them not to worry they'd be rescued before night.

Ike Norris with the doctor and policeman arrived in another boat
And they were jolly pleased to see us still afloat.
Our fire had been seen and Minaret had been reached by phone
And had said that we had left there, and thought we'd reached our home.

So Jim looks back through the years at that awful dreadful trip
And still gives thanks for his experience to beach that little ship
As they berthed at the wharf the whole populace was there
And the parson said we prayed for you. You gave us quite a scare.

The same little ship had another experience on the way to the head.
Jim was taking some people on a special trip to visit a grave of the dead.
Who brought with them that day, a girl Norman known as Dot.
Who had been brought up on Wanaka's shores and knew what was what.

The wind got up after we left and the waves were pretty high
Water was coming over the bow. It was a job to keep dry.
When sudden disaster struck, the engine pump has burst.
Jim rushed to keep the engine going for this trouble was not the first.

Jim handed the wheel to Dot Norman and said Keep her to the blow.
She had been up the lake many times and knew the way to go.

Twelve miles through that storm she steered the little boat
While Jim kept the engine going so they could keep afloat.
As I look back through the years at the courage of that teen-age girl
Who said look after the engine Jim while I give the wheel a whirl.

Yes that trip to Makarora ended safely due to the effort of our Dot
And the way she handled that ship that day will never be forgot.
She was complimented by Skipper Jim and the passengers were full of
For the way she handled the wheel in those good old far-off days.

There arrived one time in Pembroke a man of worldly fame
From the mining fields of Wales he came to hunt some game.
Sir Godfrey Williams was his name, a multi-millionaire
And established a camp at Makarora to do his deer-stalking from there.

He brought his crew from his yacht which he left in Akaroa,
To give him service in his camp, no doubt he was a goer.
Jim took him and his doctor up to pick a good campsite.
That day it was very rough the wind blew with all its might.

It took seven hours to get to Makarora when it usually took three
The waves were like mountains over which they could not see.
The wind and waves were so strong the pace was two miles per hour
Water was coming over the bow in one solid shower.

Sir Godfrey said I have sailed the seven seas and this is just a pond.
What makes it so rough? Jim said its the wind from the mountains out be
They arrived at Makarora very wet and severely cold
Sir Godfrey shook Jim by the hand and my compliments if I may

The locals told them the gale that day was the worst they had
A lot of trees from a plantation across the road was blown.
Sir Godfrey was a keen fisherman and liked to fish the lake
Jim used to take him trawling when from work he got a break.

He used to cadge cigarettes from Jim when they were out on a fishing trip.
This Jim did not mind as he was very lavish with his tip.
He had a very cultured voice and spoke with an Oxford accent
And called Jim “Skippah” when he came down from his tent.

There came a time when the Governor General came to Wanaka Hotel
The famous Admiral Jellicoe that everyone knew so well.
He and his party were taken to Pigeon Island by Skipper Jim
And they climbed all over that island with vigour and with vim.

The Admiral was also taken fishing upon the waters of the lake
But he did not catch any fish and said, “for heaven’s sake,
I was told this lake was supposed to be a fisherman's paradise
But all I got was bites from your little old sandflies.”

And then there came King George the VI who then was Duke of York
Who also went fishing but Jim didn't hear him talk.
It was said he had a stammer, so he did not advertise
But he caught himself a quinnat salmon much to his surprise.

Many people from distant lands came to see our Wanaka lake
And Jim took them sailing. To him it was a piece of cake.
The tourist trade to Wanaka was not as it is today
But they all wanted to see the sights before they went away.

An American millionaire who said he came from Baltimore
And was the most hen-pecked man that Jim had ever seen before.
His wife was a large woman with a glaring baleful eye,
Who said I want to see the lake. You can take my man and I.

Jim said he would take them if they paid the special price
She said money is no object and I hope the day is nice.
They did not want to see the island, they wanted to go to Glendhu Bay
On the way home the wind got up and the boat was showered with spray.

Her husband was enjoying the spray and laughing like a child.
His wife was glaring at him and she looked so awfully wild.
She then looked at Jim and stared at him like a stranger
And said to him, “How dare you laugh in the face of danger?”

When they reached the jetty she stalked away to the pub
And he stayed behind to pay Jim and apologise for the snub.
He said, “I am used to it now, but I enjoyed our little trip
So here's the money for the boat and a nice big tip.”

Now all these things happened in the dim and distant past,
And I thank heaven for those memories that for evermore will last.
Jim went through all those years with some trouble and some strife,
But those years he spent on Lake Wanaka were the finest of his life.