"On Wednesday the Port of London and Navigation Committee of the Common Council met at the Guildhall for the purpose of electing a principal and superintending harbour master, vacant by the resignation of Commander Fisher, RN, who has retired on a pension after 30 years service.

"It will be recollected that Captain Caffin, RN, was nominated by the Lord Mayor as one of the harbour masters, when Commander Fisher retired ; but the election of the principal and superintending harbour master was vested in the Navigation Committee.

"Mr Rowland, of the Greenwich station, who has been harbour master upward of 25 years, was next in rotation to Commander Fisher. An attempt was made to induce the Navigation Committee to deviate from the ordinary practice in favour of Captain Caffin, and great interest was excited.

"The committee discussed the question with closed doors, and at length came to the determination that the old harbour masters should rise in seniority, according to the established usage, and Mr Rowland was appointed principal and superintending harbour master, at the salary of �500 per annum ; Lieut. Stone of Limehouse, second, at a salary of �400 ; Mr Jones of Gravesend, third, �300 ; and Captain Caffin to enter, as his colleagues had formerly done, at a salary of �250. end of quote.

Source: The Shipping Gazette & Sydney General Trade List for Saturday 30 Dec 1848

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