THE PARSEE HEAD BUILDER. |
Cursetjee Rustomjee Waddia of
the Honourable Company's Dockyard, Bombay, was born in 1785;
and entered the yard under his uncle, Framjee, then Master Builder,
in 1800, as an apprentice in the shipwrights' line. He was promoted
to Fourth Assistant Builder in 1805, in which capacity he had
the superintendence (in conjunction with the other assistants)
of all ships building and repairing in the Bombay docks. In
1812 he was raised to the situation of Second Assistant; and,
in 1817, to that of First Assistant. In 1821 became Second Builder,
and as such, in 1831, received, as a mark of approbation, from
the Honourable Court of Directors, a silver rule, in token of
their estimation of the value of his services; and, finally,
in 1844, was promoted to the very responsible situation of Head
Builder at Bombay; his services embracing thus a period of nearly
half a century.
In the course
of this period upwards of one hundred large and small ships
have been built for the Honourable Company, whilst for the service
of the Crown there have been no less that ten line-of-battle
ships, five frigates, and six brigs; also for his Highness the
Imaum of Muscat one line-of-battle ship, two frigates, and five
sloops, besides numerous vessels for the merchant service.
On the occasion of driving the
silver nail in her Majesty's brig Goshawk (afterwards
Nerbudda), he had the satisfaction of receiving a silver
hammer from one of the senior members of the Government, the
Honourable Mr. James Henry Crawford.
In
person, Cursetjee Rustomjee is of the middle height, with a
remarkably pleasing and intelligent countenance, and possesses
great activity, notwithstanding his increasing years (his age
being 63). He is deservedly treated with the greatest consideration
by the government that he has for so long a period faithfully
served.
With respect to the
noble 80-gun ship, of which there are two Views. the Meanee,
although a superintendent was appointed by the lords of the
Admiralty (Mr. George Turner), with an assistant (Mr. William
Ladd), to overlook the work and give the lines, the whole of
the laborious part of the building of the ship was performed
under the directions of Cursetjee Rustomjee and his assistants,
Jehangeer and Herjeebhoy. The Meanee is built of picked
timber, and very highly finished.
We
are indebted for the accompanying Views and Portrait to Daguerréotypes,
cleverly taken by Mr. A. J. Roussac, of Bombay. |
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