Lucky just to keep afloat
To-day is the 53rd anniversary of the arrival at Port Chalmers of the ship Wild Deer, from London. The vessel, which was under the command of Captain Cameron, was on her maiden trip, and brought 123 passengers. The voyage to New Zealand was most eventful, and commenced with a fire in the saloon when the ship was only a few days out from London. When in the tropics about 20 of the crew mutinied, and threatened to throw the captain overboard. The men were overpowered before the trouble had become serious, and two of the men were placed in irons for the remainder of the voyage. On another occasion, and during the night, a barque almost ran down the Wild Deer, but for the promptitude of the captain a collision would have occurred. The fourth incident, which was of a remarkable nature, occurred during the height of a gale: a heavy sea washed over the ship and carried the second mate over the side. Those who witnessed the incident were amazed to see the next huge wave return him to the deck, where he managed to crawl to safety, suffering from a few bruises. Mr T.A. Messenger, of Grosvenor street, Dunedin, was one of the passengers by the ship.
Alphabet soup
The thrifty practice of calling an institution by the initials of its name has honourable precedent in the SPQR (Senatus Populusque Romanus), which marked State property under the Roman Republic, and which still looks majestic in half-effaced inscriptions 2000 years old. Modern abbreviations of this kind have no merit but their brevity. In Dunedin you may look in at the YMCA, cross over to the YWCA, do business at the DIC, the DSA, the AMP, the GPO, beat up the quarters of the WEA and the ASRS, etc, etc, wandering through a deaf-and-dumb alphabet of signs and symbols that save breath, but in themselves are meaningless. — by ‘Civis’
Social housing needed
Miss Runciman, a member of the Ladies’ Advisory Committee connected with the Charitable Aid Board, spoke of the urgency of providing housing accommodation for those families which have been dispossessed by the removal of old houses. So difficult was the position that any rent could be asked and obtained for accommodation, especially if there were children. Miss Runciman quoted an instance where a deserted wife with a family had to pay £1 weekly for one room. There was urgent need for a Government or municipal supply of houses for families of the very poor.
Dog wins reprieve
Mr J.R. Bartholomew SM presided over a brief sitting of the Port Chalmers Court yesterday. Archibald Coleman sought an order for the destruction of Herbert McSloy’s dog, which, it was alleged, had killed one of complainant’s fowls. Mr Bremner stated the case for Coleman and Mr O’Shea for McSloy. As the dog was young, and the evidence did not prove him dangerous, the magistrate declined to make an order, and the case was dismissed.
A good talking-to
At a sitting of the Juvenile Court yesterday, before Mr H.W. Bundle SM, six boys of varying ages admitted riding their bicycles on the footpath, mostly on Wilkie road. They were admonished and discharged. — ODT, 21.6.1924
Compiled by Peter Dowden
