SEARCH FOR ROMANCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 145, 31 March 1932, Page 6

SEARCH FOR ROMANCE

SEQUEL TO A RESCUE. EXPERIENCE OF A YOUNG AUCKLANDER. (Special to the "Guardian.") . AUCKLAND, March 29. A young Aueklander, Mr Harold Haines, won fame for himself oh Bondi Beach, Sydney, recently when he rescued a girl who had got into difficulties in the surf. Mr Haines came back to Auckland by the HuddartParker steamer Ulimaroa yesterday. .Mr Haines was strolling along the south end of Bondi Beach when lie heard a cry for help. A woman about 20 yards out was frantically waving her hands. Although not a powerful .swimmer, Mr Haines plunged into the surf and himself was swept off his feet by the swift-moving current and swell. After a considerable struggle, Mr Haines managed to bring the girl, Miss Sylvia Newlands, ashore. 'An amusing but embarrassing sequel to the incident developed. The rescue was reported in the Sydney papers. About a week later Mr Haines was called on at his hotel by a reporter and a photographer from one of the newspapers. A story had gone the rounds that Mr Haines and the girl he had rescued had fallen violently in love, that they were to be married next day and leave by the Strathnaver on a honeymoon trip to England and the Continent. This story Mr Haines strenuously denied, and mentioned that he • was engaged, but the newspaper men were sceptical. Next day Mr Haines went down to see Miss Newlands sail by the Strathnaver. Just before sailing time the lady editor of a Sydney paper arrived'with a huge bouquet for the rescued "bride." Again Mr Haines and Miss Newlands were closely questioned. "No, we are not to be married," said Mr Haines. "Miss Newlands is sailing by the ship, and I am going to Melbourne to-night." "Oh, you are to be married in Melbourne, then?" asked the lady editor. Mr Haines and Miss Newlands were not married, and no story appeared. "It was a shrewd move on the part of the lady editor to bring down a bouquet," said Mr Haines. "If we had been married and had attempted to keep it secret, the girl might have fallen for the bouquet. Womem are like that, ?r