Muddy waters, warm hearts

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33928, 22 August 1975, Page 14

Muddy waters, warm hearts

(By

JOHN LESLIE)

Lyttelton, in common with most places in Canterbury, has once again had to cope with the elements. The harbour had a yellowish, muddy tinge yesterday, but so did the Heathcote River, which the writer left, from Clarendon Terrace, over his back fence.

Once again, rain hampered waterfront work, while some houses suffered severely from slips. A few people moved out temporarily. Above Hawkhurst Road — sometimes affectionately known as "The Gully” — the situation was unpleasant. But Lytteltonians have warm hearts, and they always rally round. The fire alarm sounded in the port at 11.30 a.m., but .according to Senior-Sergeant C. G. Evans, of the Lyttelton police, it was merely to summon the hard core involved in the newly formed Port Emergency Service, a brainchild arising from the August 1 storm. This service co-ordinates the voluntary labour available for emergency; and volunteers were again on the job yesterday, attending to the needs of those inconvenienced by slips and heavy rain.

The inter-island steamer express service has a magnificent tradition, sometimes taken for granted, but never at Lyttelton. In spite of strong head winds, the Rangatira arrived at the moles yesterday morning barely two hours late, with 489 passengers aboard. Although the conditions were gusty, she berthed with her seemingly effortless precision and skill. The services of an attendant tug were not required.

The 1587-ton cement carrier John Wilson, owned by Wilson (N.Z.) Portland Cement, Ltd, is due at Lyttelton this morning to undergo a routine survey and drydocking by Sinclair Melbourne, Ltd. Lyttelton’s skilled marine tradesmen are considered by shipowners equal to the best in New Zealand, but deserve more work than they get in this field.

Returning inland for a moment, tribute rpust be paid to the milk vendor who not only served his Clarendon Terrace customers at the peak of the flood on Wednesday afternoon but carried the milk bottles up to dry level. Residents would also be grateful for the motor launch which pat-

Mujib mourned

“The Non-aligned Movement lost one of its greatest men when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was murdered in the Bangladesh coup d’etat,” a Yugoslav Foreign Ministry spokesman has said adding that Yugoslavia learned of the assassination with deep regret, and was following the situation in Bangladesh closely. — Belgrade.

rolled the Heathcote River the same evening, regularly training her searchlight on properties as a safety check.

Since its formation about 16 years ago, the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Company of Master Mariners has been versatile in its activities. Last evening, for example, younger members made a., inspection tour, by invitation, of a prominent Christchurch brewery. In contrast, the branch was once addressed on alcoholism by the Rt. Rev. A. W. Pyatt, Bishop of Christchurch. Again, in October, the guest speaker at the branch’s annual dinner will be the Wizard. ARRIVALS Rangatira (8.37 a.m.), 9387, Capt. K. E. Pugh-Williams, Wellington (U.S.S.). Obi ARTURES Union Wellington (4.22 p.m.), 2638, Capt. M. Hector-Tavlor, Wellington (U.S.S.). Ngakuta (7.27 p.m.), 4576 Capt. G. Kaye, Wellington (U.S.S.). Rangatira (8.5 p.m.), 9387, Capt. R. E. Pugh-Williams. Wellington (U.S.S.). ■ EXPECTED ARRIVALS Madison Lloyd. Wellington, today. John Wilson Wellington, today (Survey). Sooehow. Wellington, today. Hawea, Dunedin, today. Tasman Career, ——. August 21. Japan Kauri, Wellington, August 23. Rangatira, Wellington, August 23. Rangatira, Wellington, August 24. Magnificent Venture. Tauranga. August 25. (Bulk.) Nile Mani, Japan, August 25. Coastal Trader. Ddnedin, August 27 PROJECTED DEPARTURES Hawea, Wellington, today. Union Auckland. Auckland. . today. (Bulk.) Mataura. Nelson. August 23. Rangatira, Wellington, August 23 (daylight). Sooehow, Tauranga, August 25. Madison Lloyd Dunedin. August 25. lonic, Timaru, August 26. Coastal Trader. Auckland. August 27. Magnificent Venture. . August 27. (Bulk.) Japan Kauri, New* Plymouth. August 27. Rangatira, Wellington. August 24. VESSELS IN PORT tonic, No. I Cashin Quay. Mataura No. 2 Cashin Quay. Union Auckland, G.P.E. Holmdale. No. 3 East