Captain William Mcdowall , who has held a captain's certificate since May, 1904, is the first mate on the s.s. “Mountaineer,” the finest vessel of the small fleet of Government steamers trading on Lake Wakatipu. Mr McDowall was born at Port Moly-neaux, in 1872. He attended school at St. Leonards, Ravensbourne, Dune-din, and South Dunedin. At the age of fifteen he went to sea out of Dunedin, on coastal steamers, and after six months, commenced to get general experience in mercantile life. In April, 1893, Captain McDowall settled in Queenstown, and commenced working on local steamers in 1896. He was appointed mate on the s.s. “Mountaineer” in 1891, and has on occasions acted as relieving captain on the s.s. “Antrim.”