Despite a series of mishaps, Captain Butler and his men stuck persistently to the task.
After all the cables procurable locally had failed to stand the strain, exceptionally strong cables, 4in in circumference, were hired, and it was expected that these would prove sufficiently strong for the strain, and the boat would break before they would, but on Friday afternoon one of the cables, costing £60, snapped, and the fact was brought home to the board members that it would be futile to persist further with the present methods.
The four traction engines were dispensed with, and the Clutha steamer was put in readiness for the river service, which was resumed on Monday morning.
The board's salvage operations have proved costly - the accounts presented to the meeting on Friday in connection with this work amounted to £218 16s 5d.
The board does not insure the boats, as premiums on river steamers are very heavy.
The debit balance at the Bank of New Zealand amounts of £2920 10s 3d, and the total accounts owing on February 26 were 261 0s 3d, as against freight and other moneys outstanding, about £370.
The limit of the overdraft allowable is £3000.
It will be seen that the board has very little to fall back on for salvage expenses.
• Captain Warren, of the Westmeath, which vessel is at present lying at Port Chalmers, took a definite part in the transport of British troops to France, and the taking back from there of German prisoners, in the early part of the war, and yesterday gave some most interesting details of his experiences to a Daily Times reporter.
Captain Warren's ship had the honour of taking the first big shipment of German prisoners from France.
These were taken on board at St. Nazaire, and there were 500 men and 12 officers in the batch.
The captain said the German soldiers were all satisfied with their connection with the war - they had fought for the Fatherland, and were quite contented.
The German officers, however, felt their position very keenly.
There was a German count amongst the officers, and he informed Captain Warren that if Germany did not finish the war in three months - this was in the middle of August - as she expected to do, the Allies would take three years to finish it.
The count also made slighting reference to the wages which had to be paid to the British soldiers, and was very much surprised when Captain Warren informed him that he had just taken over to France a regiment of the Honorary Artillery Company, and that each of these men had to pay 2gs to join the regiment, and £150 a year each for his equipment, etc.
The count simply did not believe the statement.
• At the meeting of the Bruce County Council yesterday a letter was received from Mr W. L. Colvin (secretary of the Otago Motor Club) drawing attention to the large number of unlighted motor cars and cycles to be met on the roads north and south of Milton.
In some cases accidents were narrowly averted, and the writer asked that steps should be taken to stop this dangerous practice.
The Chairman (Cr Clark) remarked that it was a difficult matter to deal with, as the ranger said he had difficulty in discerning the numbers.
It was high time that something was done, as matters were getting worse.
It was finally decided that acting-inspectors should be appointed in each riding, and supplied with flashlight lamps, in order to assist them to detect offenders. - ODT, 3.3.1915.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
