Captain George Bain Johnston
WAS born at Cockenzie, in the county of Haddington, Scotland, on the 26th November, 1829. He was educated at Steel's Hospital, parish of Tranent. At the age of 15 he became an apprentice on board the schooner "Mary Donaldson," and served four years in the foreign trade. At the expiration of this time he went to England, and in 1852 came to Australia. His first voyage was with Captain Cadell, in the River Murray Navigation Company's steamer " Lady Augusta." In 1855 he became captain of the "Albury" steamer, newly launched from Glasgow. On arriving at Moama he met with a serious accident, caused by the punt rope not being slackened down at the report of the whistle, consequently he was thrown into the stokehole, breaking his leg and two ribs—this being the third time the same limb was broken. The residents of Albury were overjoyed at seeing Captain Johnston and steamer arrive, gave him a banquet in honor of his great achievement, and also presented him with one hundred sovereigns, which were expended in a magnificent silver cup suitably inscribed. After continuing in this trade for some years, he joined partnership with Mr. Charles Murphy, and purchased the steamers "Moolgewanke" and the "Albury." By their strenuous efforts they prospered and became large steamboat proprietors and merchants on the Murray and its tributaries, and the firm of Johnston and Murphy was favourably known far and wide in connection with the river trade. In 1864 they built the "Maranoa," and in 1866 Captain Johnston went to Scotland to superintend the building of a paddle-wheel steamer named the "Murray." After being loaded there, she sailed under canvas to Port Victor, and thence to Port Adelaide. In 1873, the firm of Johnston & Murphy dissolved partnership, the business being carried on by Captain Johnston alone. Desi-
