Captain Charles Hopkins, of the Northern Steamship Company's “Waimana,” was born in the Tower of London, in 1844, and is a son of the late Mr. Charles Hopkins of the 58th Regiment. He came to the Colony with his father's regiment in 1846, and received his early education at the Auckland Academy under the late Rev. John Gorrie. On completing his education he went to sea and followed the coastal trade with occasional spells on shore. For the last eighteen years he has been in the steam service, and was captain of the “Ohinemuri” in the Bay of Plenty trade for a number of years, after which he entered on his present command. Captain Hopkins is a member of Lodge St. Andrew, No. 418, S.C. He was for many years a member of the Auckland Rowing Club, and belonged to the champion four-oared crew, which was unbeaten for eleven years. In his early days he was one of Auckland's prominent athletes. Captain Hopkins, who resides at Norfolk Street, Ponsoaby, is married and has a family of three sons and two daughters. He was presented with the Royal Humane Society's silver medal for a gallant deed of bravery in saving life at Auckland.