A NEW LIFEBOAT. SUCCESSFUL TRIAL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 144, 19 June 1909, Page 6

A NEW LIFEBOAT. SUCCESSFUL TRIAL.

' Mr. H. Fisher, a Wellington inventor, tried his patent non-collapsible lifeboat from the Government steamer Tutanekai this morning. The trial ■was a great success. It was witnessed by a large number of nautical people, including Mr. Allport, Secretary for Marine, and Captain , Johnson, Harbourmaster. j Captain Post, of the Tutanekai, superintended launching operations from the ship. The boat, which is cylindrical, with conical ends, is built of steel and rivetted. It is provided with small lights, also -valves which allow -of adequate ventilation. Passengers enter by 9 trap door, which is locked when they ' are inside. The boat will carry twenty passengers inside and thirty out. This morning she took the water with Sirs. Fisher, the inventor's wife, and her eon; Mrs. T. H. Bramsgrove, Mr. Higgms, and Mr. J. W. Davis, business manager for the investor. When tha passengers entered the boat, and shut; themselves in, it was lifted to- the edge of thi deck of the Tutanekai, and fcigpe-J into the water. Jt fell vertically, its torpedo-like end cleaving the water But it bobbed up like a cork, and was never wholly submerged, fhero was much cheering on ' the wharf and the ship as the queerlooking craft floated on the surface, and a small flag was thrust out giving the outside world news of the high spirits Of 'those "withm the boat. ' The ladies were thrown to the downward end of the boat, and were Bome■what shaken. It was very hot inside,, the passengers said, beforo they reached, the water ; then the temperature wasagreeably reduced, and the air was eweet and pure. There was an electric light burning inside, and the experiences of the two first -passengers appeared to be far from disagreeable. Submitted to such a severe .test as being prar+jcally pitched overboard, as this •torpedo-shaped craft was, an ordinary ship's boat would have disappeared, ana the passengers with her. fhe inventor himself ■is delighted witrt the display, as the test was a very severe one for Btill water. The Manapouri, from Rarotonga, yesterday brought details of tho reception by residents of the news of Colonel Gudgeon's retirement. Very general regret has been expressed by botti natives" and whites alike at the change of . administrator. Surprise was 'evinced at the action of the Prime Minister in apgoinfcing. Mr. J. Eman Smith to fill olonel Gudgeon's position, as it is not known in the group if that gentleman possesses the qualities necessary for dealing with the natives. The combination .with the resident commissionership of the offices of Judge of the Lands I itles Court and High Court makes a knowledge of the natives, their land tews, ana ancient customs absolutely essential, and this knowledge cannot* be acquired except at the cost of long years of residence. Mr. Smith will, it is recognised, have the assistance of the Government oQicials in R-aratonga in al matters upon which they are able to advise. It is felt in the Island to be a matter for regret- that the new Zealand Government officials in Rarotonga in all matters commissioner, and some resentment has been shown at the fact tljat the Government made the appointment of Colonel Gudgeon's successor before the residents, both Europeans and natives, were informed of what was proposed to be done. The Queen Makea, Chief Ariki, o' Rarotonga. when she heard of the change, said: — "Vvo are losing our truefriend and father in Colonel Gudgeon. The Xew Zealand Government is sending us p. new resident commissioner. We will form no opinion now ; after we have seen Mr. Smith we shall then judge. But we will let the Prime Minister and the Ministry know our thoughts." A charge of assault was preferred in the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon by Alfred Haydn Thomas, tram conductor, against George Washington Van Slyke, medical practitioner. Evidence was given that defendant attempted to board a Karori tram on Lambton-quay. Before he had really "ot on the car complainant set it in motion, occasioning defendant much personal discomfort. The alleged assault eventuated at the Karori terminus, defendant striking plaintiff on tho chin with his stick. Complainant admitted that he set the cat 1 going too soon, explaining that he did not notice that defendant was lame. He tendered defendant his number, and the only provocation he could have given was to refuse to make any explanation of the occurrence to defendant, he remarking that. he would report to the tramway office. His evidence was corroborated by the motcrman and a ■ passenger. Defendant ■ pleaded not guilty. He stated that, plaintiff had been insolent to him, and denied striking him. Mr. Riddell, fe.M., said ha was satisfied that an assault had been committed, but not of sufficient seriousness to involve a penalty. The information would be dismissed. Mr. O'Shea prosecuted, ana Mr. Herdman defended. An avcrag* yield of fourteen tons of potfttoei per acre is reported from the Malvern district. Tnia is a strong contrast with our local experience (states the Ashburton Guardian) this season. In fact, quite a number of the crops in tho Ashburton district are so badly affected by the blight that they are not worth digging, and it has been found that the tubers so attacked decay very; quickly when exposed to -the air.