YACHT'S ROUGH TRIP

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21728, 10 March 1936, Page 8

YACHT'S ROUGH TRIP

BOTH HEADSAILS BLOWN

AWAY

HEAVY WEATHER IN HAL'RAKI

GULF [THE PRESS Special Service] AUCKLAND, March 9,

With her two headsails blown to shreds, and her crew of two cold and somewhat exhausted after being continually drenched by heavy seas, the B class yacht Rangi arrived at Auckland about 3 o'clock this morning from Russell.

Engaged to bring the yacht to Auckland, Messrs J. H. Whitehead and H. N. Cook, of Russell, set sail shortly before noon on Saturday with a fair wind. The yacht made good time to Cape Brett, but then encountered a heavy and confused sea. The recent easterly gales had caused a big roll, and the strong prevailing south-easterly wind formed a steep and short cross sea. It was while the Rangi was being buffeted by the seas that the jib sheets carried away, and the sail split down the middle and was blown to ribbons in an instant.

The yacht was headed for Wangamurau, and shelter was reached without further incident. The voyage was resumed on Sunday morning, and thick weather with big seas was again met. Conditions moderated as the yacht made its way down the coast. However, near Kawau Island, a black squall struck the vacht and blew out the remaining headsail. Under the mainsail alone, and with landfalls anything but certain in the fitful light afforded when the moon appeared between rifts of dark clouds, the Rangi continued her arduous beat up the gulf. Fortunately the mainsail was particularly strong, made specially for ocean work when the Rangi was a competitor in the trans-Tasman contest* some years ago.

his altitude during conferences, and at sittings of the Arbitration Court.

MR GEORGE HUNTER

Mr G. R. Hunter was associated with the Prime Minister, the Hon. M. J Savage, in Australia, before he came to New Zealand. He has been a lifeleng friend of the Minister for Mines. Hie Hon. P. C. Webb, and on his arrival in New Zealand took up mining with , Mr Webb at Denniston. In 1910 Mr Hunter was elected secretary of th<* State Miners' Union. He held that position for several years, resigning it on being appointed town clerk for the (tret borough council formed in Runanga, a mining township on the West Coast. He held this position for 10 years, and then resigned to organ is 3 3 co-operative mine with Mr Webb. Mr Hunter f<v a time was organising-sec-retary for Mr Webb and later for Mr H. E. Holland. He was a vice-presi-dent and later a president of the Kunanga Co-operative Society. About 12 years ago lie came to Cliristchurch ami entered business with Mr Webb. forming the company known as the | Point Elizabeth Coal Company, of I which he is now manager. Mr Hunte* - ' served for .■; term on the Christchurch I City Council, and was chairman of its | works committee, and he was recently elected a member of the Christchurch I Drainage Board.

?Ul FRANK LARK

Mr !■'. V,. Lark lias been prominently associated with the Labour movement in Auckland, and in other parts of New Zealand for several years, arid particularly in recent years has worked on behalf of the unemployed. He was elected a member of the Auckland City Council last year, and if also a member of the Auckland Transport, Board, of which lie is deputychairman.

iNK KKKNAKI) MARTIN

Mr V>. Martin, who is DeputyMayor of Auckland, lias had a long association with the Labour movement, in Auckland. lie came to New Zealand fr.im Kngland '.'>o years ago at the ;>gc of Hi. He soon associated himsi If with the movement in Auckland, and became secretary of several trade union.-. and a loaning industrial advocate Mr Martin, was elected a memb'M- of the Auckland City Council in li)::i, but iosl his seat in 1933. He was rc-clctcd to the City Council last year. Cue of his greatest interest:-; has been the Workers' Educational Association.

mi JOHN IYICCULLOUGH

Mi- J. A. McCul lough, of Christch.urch, is described as one of the staunchest supporters the Labour movement has ever had in the Dominion. He was employed years ago as a railway worker. In 1907 he was appointed the workers' representative in the Arbitration Court, and held that position about 14 years. He was a member of the old Socialist party. which was so active about 30 years ago. In 1922 he stood for Riccarton in the general election, and was defeated. He has been a member of the Riccarton branch of the Labour party for many years.

MR BENJAMIN ROBBINS

Mr B. C. Robbins is a prominent resident of Tauranqa, and formerly was Mayor of the: borough. He was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and al'l or his arrival in New Zealand became a dairy factory proprietor at Hawrra. He was prominently associated with local bodies in Hawera. and at Wanganui. He has contested both the Egmont and Tauranga seats lor the House of Representatives.

SIR CHARLES STATHAM

Sir Charles Statham was elected to Parliament in 1911 as member for Dunedin Central, and held the seat continuously until last year, when he did not seek re-election. For 13 years —1023 to 1935—Sir Charles was Speaker of the House of Representatives, a record for continuity in that office.

Sir Charles was born in Dunedin in 1875. He first trained as an accountant, but later studied law, and was admitted as a solicitor in 1901 and a barrister in 1906. He was for a term a member of the Dunedin City Council, and had wide interests in the sporting life of Otago. Sir Charles was knighted in 1926.

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