he owned or part-owned the "teviot", "ellen", "moira" 1865–, "princess royal", "jupiter", "jane eliza" (with which he once towed three barges from bourke), "gem" (which he lengthened by 40 feet) "j. h. p." 1872– and "ruby". the gem line, of which he was a principal, also ran the "corowa", "marion" and the second "ruby". the partnership with george chaffey as "h. king and co." was taken over by chaffey in 1897.