DUTY DONE

Evening Star, Issue 20585, 10 September 1930, Page 5

DUTY DONE

GOVERNOR EXTOLS TAHITI'S PERSONNEL [Ter United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 9, Warm appreciation of the heroism displayed by the captain, officers, and men of the Tahiti was expressed by the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) at the anniversary meeting this evening of the Sailors’ Friend Society. His Excellency said he had never come across a more thoroughly modest party of men, who only desired to be regarded as those who in an emergency had done their duty. He was particularly struck by the attitude of Captain Toten, who had expressed, as skipper of the boat, tho appreciation which all New Zealanders entertained of the coolness, promptness, and courage with which the crew had acted and endeavoured to save not merely the passengers, but also the ship. in® captain, with a modesty worthy of a great man, bad stated that they did but do their duty, and that the men whom they were thinking of all the time, and who really deserved tribute, were those down in the engine room, working in the dark, with the water rising, not knowing whether it was going to be possible to save the ship from one half-hour to another. it was a fine tribute from a great man and a very modest one, said ills Excellency. . . .. . The Court of Inquiry to investigate the loss of the Tahiti comprises Mr E. Page, S.M. (chairman), Captain L. C. H. Worrall (one-time master of the Makura), and Mr W. Parker. The last-named is a retired marine engineer, who was appointed an assessoi in view of the fact that the loss of the Tahiti was due to a mishap to her propelling machinery. The inquiry will open on Thursday.