SMOKE CONCERT

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 87, 10 October 1927, Page 4

SMOKE CONCERT

COMBINED SHIPPING

COMPANIES

The annual smoke concert o£ the combined shipping companies -was held at Dustin'B Hall on Saturday evening. Mr. C. M. Turrell presided, and among those present were the Hon. R. A. Wright, Captain J. E. Dawson, Mr. E. V. Bevan, Captain D. Holm, Mr. N. S. Falla, Captain A. M'lntosh, Mr. A. W. Wheeler, and Captain F. A. Macindoe. Apologies -were received from the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister of Marine, Sir John Luke, Mr. J. H. C. Bond, and Mr. Aiken. ' In .proposing the toast of "The Navy," Mr. N. S. Falla stressed the importance of that service in the protection of the Empire, especially of those in distant parts. He referred to the big part played by the Navy in the protection of New Zealand. Mr. R. Darroch, secretary of the Navy League, responded to the toast, and traced r brief outline the comparatively recent growth of the Royal Navy. . He referred to the exploits of the sailors of old, and the great feats of navigation they performed in traversing long stretches of uncharted ocean in ships that'seeraed ridiculoußly small to; us now, and declared that the wo<|plerful spirit thus indicated had by no means deteriorated. He went on to recount the terrible experiences of Captain W. Olphert,- now marine superintendent of the New Zealand Shipping Company at Wellington. "Captain Olphert had his ship torpedoed; and was taken to Germany on board an enemy submarine, where he was a prisoner of war for some considerable time. ■.

The toast of "The Mercantile Marine" was proposed by the Hon, K. A. Wright. Captain A. M'lntosh, master of the Kia Ora, which is at present at Wellington, responded.

Captain J. E. Dawson, harbourmaster, proposed the toast of "The Shipping Companies," to; which Mr. E. V-. Bevan, of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, on behalf of the overseas companies, and Captain D. Holm, on behalf of the local companies, responded. • Other toasts honoured were "The Customs," proposed by Mr. Turrell and responded to by Mr. Butler; and "The Press," proposed' by Mr. R. Boyes. The opportunity was also, taken, as the annual football ma.tch had been played in the afternoon at Beatoun,: resulting in a win for the combined companies over' the Union Company, to present the shield to the captain of the winning team. Mr. A. W. Wheeler made the presentation, and also proposed the health of "The Teams," to which members of the teams responded. An excellent musical programme, arranged by Mr. H. Wilson, was provided by The Lyric Quartette, find several sea chanties and tales were given by Captains F. A M'lndoe and A. V. .H. Monro.