This vessel was actively concerned in one of the escapades of the German cruiser Emden, shortly before the cruiser was put out of action.
About the end of September, 1914, after the Emden had done considerable damage in the Indian Ocean, she one day sighted the Gryfevale, and signalled that the crew were to leave the vessel preparatory to being torpedoed.
Finding, however, that the Gryfevale was empty, the commander of the Emden decided to put the crews of the vessels he had previously sunk — namely, the Pumedic, King Lud, Riberia, and Coyle, on the Gryfevale, and to keep her by him to receive the crews of any vessels that he might deal with in the same way.
Finally, however, he decided that vessel was in his way, and putting her in the charge of Captain D. Clinton, at that time first officer of the Gryfevale, he despatched with the five extra crews for Colombo, where she arrived safely.
It appears that the reason that the vessel is afloat to-day is owing to the fact that she was empty at the time.
Another matter of interest in the vessel is that she was at New York at the time of the recent explosions in the port.
• With regard to the employment of female workers in the rope and twine industry, Mr J. R. Triggs (Conciliation Commissioner) has met Messrs H. F. Sincock and R. M. Passmore, representing the employers, and Messrs S. Boreham and William Baker, representing the union. The following conditions were agreed upon:- (1) Hours of work to be in accordance with the provisions of the Factories Act; and (2) the wages to be 10s per week for the first year, 15s for the second year, £1 the third year, £1 5s the fifth year, and £1 10s thereafter.
Mr Triggs states that the employers have given an assurance that the employment of females will not affect the employment of males.
The commissioner visited the factory at South Dunedin, and warmly complimented the management upon the very complete arrangements made for the convenience of the works.
Everything is very clean, and there is a nice dining room for the girls.
• A case with a rather interesting history was called in the Magistrate’s Court at Timaru on Friday before Mr V. G. Day, S. M. (says the Herald).
On May 16 a young man was charged with having been of disorderly behaviour, having used obscene language, and having assaulted a constable.
He stated that he wanted to join the Expeditionary Force, and the bench adjourned the case in order to give him an opportunity to redeem himself.
When the case was called Sergeant-major Thatcher, on behalf of Captain Okey, said that reports that came from camp were that the young man’s behaviour was excellent, and he had left New Zealand as a corporal.
His Worship said that the defendant had evidently made good, and he would be convicted and discharged.
• Detective-sergeant Cameron recently made an unsolicited call on a woman in Invercargill, who has allegedly been making quite a good thing out of fortune-telling lately (says the Southland Times) and in due course the lady will have to explain things to the magistrate. — ODT, 17.10.1916
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
