LOOKING BACK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 13

LOOKING BACK.

NOTABLE EVENTS. POET LAUREATE APPOINTED. NEXT 'WEEK'S ANNIVERSARIES (By MAX WHATMAN.) The literary world of England beamed with quiet approval when it was announced on May 9, 1930, that Mr. John Maseficld had been accorded the high honour of appointment to the Poet Laureateship. This great poet, novelist and dramatist occupies a unique position in literature, for he is a man of many parts, in all of which he is outstanding. As a young man Masefield, who was born in England's West Country in 187t>, went to sea before the mast. Friendless and alone, he had to take all sorts of employment to save himself from starving, and at one stage he was pot boy in a New York drinking den. The memories and influence of this and other similar experiences are plainly evident in his narrative poems. Returning to England, Masefield entered journalism and was for a time on the staff of the "Manchester Guardian." Later, he established himself in London and settled down to serious literary work. The result is well known. His poems are powerful in their narrative form, .and have the same breath of the open air as his novels. Of his dramatic works, the best known is that beautiful religious play, "Good Friday." Fortunate, indeed, is the nation who may claim as its own the poet who wrote, to mention only one passage:— Then in the sunset flush they went aloft, And unbent sails in that most lovely hour. When the light gentles and the wind is soft And beauty in the heart breaks like a flower. A Napier Disaster.

An unusual feature of the wreck of the Northumberland at Napier on May 10, .1887. was the fact that, although the crew of the wrecked ship were all rescued, five lives were lost, the victims being those who made the first attempt to rescue the men on the Northumberland. The Northumberland was driven ashore by a heavy gale which sprang up when she was lying at anchor in the Napier roadstead. After the ship struck, a boat was lowered containing the younger members of the crew. A small steamer came out to take the boat's crew on board, but was drawn into the breakers and capsized, only one of the crew of six being rescued by a lifeboat from the Northumberland. A line was floated ashore from the Northumberland and* a cradle rigged. By this means all were brought safely to shore. By morning the masts had gone over the side and only a small portion of the wreck was visible. What was left of the old ship reappeared after the Napier earthquake of 1931. The Elder Pitt. Of King Charles I. it was said that nothing in his life became him like the leaving of it. Of William Pitt. Earl of Chatham, it could be said that his death was of a piece with his life—impressive by the fact that the attack which brought it on occurred amid the same surroundings as those which saw many of his greatest triumphs. Pitt had a long and distinguished career as a statesman and was the most eloquent Parliamentarian of his time.

In the long conflict with France that preceded the War of American Independence, he showed great resourcefulness and vigour. Although hampered by the obstinacy of the King, he pursued the war with success. British arms were everywhere victorious—in India, in Africa, in Canada, on the Rhine; and British fleets drove the few French ships they did not capture or destroy from practically every sea. Retiring from a long and honourable career in his country's service, Chatham returned to the House of Lords to urge a stronger resistance to the American colonists. He made a magnificent speech, securing a majority against the motion to negotiate a peace. It was the orator's last effort. Exhausted by speaking, he rose a«-ain to reply to a query addressed to him by the Duke of Richmond. The effort was too much. His physical powers faded and he fell back in an apopletic fit, being carried from the House bv his second son-, William, himself to be Prime Minister within five vears. Not many days afterwards, on May 11 1778 Chatham was dead, at the age'of 70 He was buried in Westminster Abbev, where a statue was erected to his memory at the public expense. General Grant Wreckefl. One of the most terrible stories of human suffering among the many that form part of the record of wrecks on the coasts of Xew Zealand and island dependencies is that told bv the ten survivors of the wreck of the General Grant, which was lost on the Auckland Islands more than 70 vears ago. Poignancy is lent to this" tragedy by the fact that the wreck itself did "not complete the toll of lives lost as a result of it.

The General Grant, a fine ship of 1200 tons, was bound for London from Hobson's Bay, Victoria, when she sighted the Auckland Islands on May 13, 1866. The wind dropped and the ship, having no steerage way, drifted on to the rocky coast. At 1 a.m. on the following day she struck. Boats were launched, hut the biggest of them, with at least 40 on board, was swamped and only 15 of the crew and passengers were saved. The survivors sought refuge on Disappointment Island, later shifting their quarters to Enderby Island, where a better look-out could be kept. Food was scanty. Clothing wore out, and the castaways lived mainly on • seal meat, making primitive garments from the skins of the same animals. The weary months of a bitter winter dragged slowly by. There was little prospect of rescue, and, in January, ; 1867, four men decided to make an attempt to reach Xew Zealand in the pinnace. They had no compass, chart ir nautical instruments. Their supply f food was scanty, yet they bravely set ->ut to sail the stormiest seas in the -.vorld. Neither the boat nor the men was ever heard of again. Eleven survivors were left on the island. Death claimed one of them, and the others, after twice having the terrible experience of seeing passing ships but being unable to attract their attention, were picked up by the brig Amherst on November 21, 1867. This was not the final chapter in the tragic history of the General Grant. Expeditions were made in later years to recover pold that was carried on the vessel. One of these ventures was made by the crew of the tiny schooner Daphne. When the ship was off the Auckland Islands, a boat was launched manned by six men, including the cap-

tain and one survivor from the wreck of the General Grant. They also were never heard of again. British Rugby Tour. When the Rugby enthusiasts of New Zealand are anxiously weighing up the All Blacks' chances against the Springboks, it i-s interesting to recall that it will be seven years on Friday next since the opening of the last tour of the Dominion by an overseas team from further afield, than Australia. This was the British team captained by F. D. Prentice, which played 21 matches in New Zealand, including four Tests. This fine team, though losing three Tests and three provincial games, had a most successful tour from the most important point of view, which is not now generally regarded as the winning of matches. In the British team were some magnificent players who will not readily be forgotten by those who saw them in action. Bassett, Aarvold. Morley, Novis, Spong, Beamish, Parker, Black —to mention some of the most impressive, made reputations in this countrv.

It is generally conceded that the British team was unfortunate in losing the services of Sobey in the first game. This upset the team's Test combination, and meant New Zealandors were robb.>d of the chance of seeing what was vaunted as the world's best inside hack combination in action. Although beaten by Wellington and Canterbury, the tourists inflicted a defeat on the All Blacks in the first Test at Dunedin. The selectors thought furiously and decided to choose a team on performances instead of reputation with the result that New Zealand was on top in the remainng three games of the series. One more beating at the hands of a provincial side was- also to some, Auckland this time distinguishing themselves.