Of Shackleton’s men

The Wanganui Steam Packet Company’s Stormbird, wrecked at Wanganui was the oldest iron vessel...
The Wanganui Steam Packet Company’s Stormbird, wrecked at Wanganui was the oldest iron vessel afloat, prior to the incident. She was built by Lawrie and Company of Glasgow and launched in 1854. — Otago Witness, 13.9.1916.
LONDON: The Daily Chronicle’s correspondent at Punta Arenas writes of Shackleton’s men: "The party are making good recovery from their privations. They will arrive in England at the end of October."

Mr Wild gives a vivid description of the life on Elephant Island.

He says: "Our hut was constantly flooded, and we baled it out nightly. The only hot meal was served at dawn — penguin fried in blubber. Our lunch was biscuit and raw blubber. The afternoon was spent exercising on a track 100 yards long. The dinner — of penguins’ breast and bovril — was greatly enjoyed. It was hard to digest fish found in seals’ stomachs. The men smoked grass from the padding of their boots. The pipes were of carved wood and birds’ bones."

Mr Wild adds: "It was decided that, failing relief by the end of October, we would try to reach Deception Island, where the whalers came in the summer. Biscuits and sugar — sledging rations — were reserved for this party. We went to bed at half-past five nightly. We took it in turns to read aloud from the Bible, the Encyclopedia Britannica, and leading authors."

The first question asked of the rescuers was: "Is the war over?"

The residents at Port Chalmers were called upon yesterday to take part in jubilations in celebration of the attainment of the fiftieth year of the Port’s existence as a municipality.

For a short time in the afternoon matters of local interest came into prominence other than the profitable association with "they that go down to the sea in ships — that do business in great waters."

According to the day’s arrangements, quite a number of the enthusiastic residents not troubled with heart weakness or shortness of breath climbed the hill on which Captain Scott’s memorial stands, and took part in commemorative tree-planting.

The Mayor (Mr T. Scollay), accompanied by the Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister of Internal Affairs) and a group of residents on arriving at the site chosen for the jubilee plantation, found the ground prepared and trees ready for placing in position.

• A well-known local citizen figured in quite a comedy-drama at the Palmerston North Post Office last week (says the Manawatu Times).

He was awaiting his turn at the counter when he observed the plight of a lady who was endeavouring to hold a baby and delve into a capacious handbag at the same time.

The gentleman courteously offered to hold the child whilst the lady transacted her business at the counter, his offer being accepted.

The moments passed, and the gentleman still had hold of the baby, with whom he had been playing.

His attention thus occupied, he failed to notice the mother of the child go over to the writing-desks. When he did look up he did not observe the mother, but what he did see was a lady similarly attired just going out the door.

He was after her in one bound.

"Your child, madam," he observed to the lady, who looked at him with blank astonishment.

"Sir, you are most certainly mistaken." she assured the man with the baby.

The look that she gave him made him the most unhappy and discomforted individual in Palmerston.

When he was hoping that the ground would open under his feet, the mother of the child arrived and relieved him of the baby, at the same time demanding to know where he was going with it!

When last seen, the gentleman was emphatically assuring two friends who had enjoyed his predicament that it would be a long time before he would be so courteous again. — ODT, 12.9.1916.

 

• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ

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