LIGHT AND SHADE

Evening Star, Issue 20374, 4 January 1930, Page 2

LIGHT AND SHADE

[By Kta Ora.]

INCIDENTS OF THE MANUKA WRECK

One’s eyes wandered from the black, sinister rocks ahead hack to the deck, where stood rows of ashen-faced passengers grotesquely garbed-—most of them with lifebelts on. Tt was a grim, dramatic scene. Suddenly we heard » woman emphatically announcing to the bystanders; “I can assure you that this is the first time in my life that 1 have ever appeared in public in my nightdress; the only other time was at the baths at Rotorua, when I had on my mackintosh as well.” What wonderful serenity to he thinking of appearance at such k juncture. Unwittingly she was quite a nerve soother. Soon came word “ All women passengers go through the saloon to the boats,” and along we trooped. It looked to be a most alarming distance down the rope ladders to the bouts, but the seamen were very helpful and reassuring. , , Next to mo in the lifeboat*was a Maori endowed with the usual native kindliness. Tucking a blanket round me, he said: “ You go Dunedin, ladyP” My heart quaked as I looked at the sinking ship in the distance and then at our boat rocking up and down over the waves. “ I hope so,” I murmured. Every now and then we imagined that we saw lights of rescue ships in the ■ distance, but they were merely flares from some of our other boats. Hour after hour passed. The agony of suspense was heightened by the discomforts of seasickness, cold, and rain. In the early hours of dawn someonecalled: “ Look, look, there are people on that reef. Look, our people, look!” Sura enough a boat had been able to land. We were saved, it seemed incredible and almost too good to be truo when we all squatted round a big fire on Long Nose Point, having some nourishment in the form of tea, biscuits, and chocolate. Sitting now at this home in comfort I think of that strange morning picnic, and cab see m my mind’s eye the youngest survivor—a nine months old infant, who lay smiling happily. Ho was evidently pleased with the whole surroundings, and seemed to find the flames quite entrancing. When trying to describe the various scenes to an old friend he murmured almost regretfully: “ Well, well, I have nearly reached tne age of eighty summers, but never yet have I had an experience like yours.”