THE RANGITIKEI EPISODE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 7977, 1 February 1897, Page 3

THE RANGITIKEI EPISODE.

[TO inK BDITOE.I

Sin,—Permit mo express the indignation, whioh I and many others fee), at the apathy shown to-day by the powers that be in oonneotion with the Eangitikei episode. Firstly, when that vessel hoisted a signal various were the interpretations thereof, and although many, were reading them, all had a version of their own, and to an observer it does seem strange that., ooneidering the oomparative proximity of the ship, none could read the signal oorrect'.y. But the worst featnre of all, and one which reflects disgrace upon those responsible for it, ia that when the a.s. Dingadee at 4.30 p.m. steamed round the distressed veaeel, and brought back the news by signal " Captain killed, want medical assistance," not a finger was raised by any one to send them suooor, although the wind and sea had moderated so munh that several sailor men volunteerod to take a boat and pull a dootor on board. Thoir services were not aooepted, however, nor were any of the small steamers got ready, and I understand th»t no assistance will be pent till to-morrow morning.

I cay again it is a standing disgrace to think of tbst ship there within a quarter of a milo of a leo shore ia charge of the seoond mate, a more youth, with his captain dead, the ohtef mate an invalid, and all hands, aa they must be, exhausted with anxiety and the b&ttle with the elementa for the last twenty-four hours. In addition to that, who can, say but what the satae sea whioh billed Captain Pottinger did not seriously maim other members of the crew ? At 12 30 p m. tha fleet signal for assistance was sent up, and nothing is to be done for them till 4 am. to-morrow, notwithstanding the fact that there were able men willing and eager to go to their assistance if they were given authority and a suitable boat. Oco would think that it should not have been necessary for men to offer to risk their lives iv a cowing boat, bat that a steamer should have been got ready and sent out at once with a dootor and a relief crew. The only explanation that one can possibly see for delay is that this might oost a few paltry pounds, atsd, if such be the case, then I assert that if anything goes amies with any of those unfortunate men during the night that some one ought to be made responsible for it, and made to suffer for his or their negleot. This is an inoident the particulars of which will be known soon from one end of the oouutry to the other, and onr sailors and watermen will have the finger of soorn pointtd at them by outsiders, although they have virtually been prevented by those in authority from helping their comrades in distress. What a contrast is this to the gallant eonduot of those members of the Orient's crew who went to re-victual the Phyllis, and yep I venture to say that we have men here aa hardy and Bβ courageous ac ever palled an oar if they are only given the opportunity. The seriousness of this matter must be my apology for the length of this letter, trusting that full enquiry will be made and the fault sheeted home to the proper a uarter.—l am, &0., John Robertson. Port Ahuriri, January 30th, 1897.