FRENCH SLOOP’S ARRIVAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1937, Page 4

FRENCH SLOOP’S ARRIVAL

CONSUL’S HEAD INJURY

[PER press association.]

AUCKLAND, April 2G

Straightening up too sharply after he had bowed his acknowledgements of the salute given him as he went on board the French sloop Rigault de Genouilly this morning, M. Edouard Joubert, Consul for France in Auckland, struck his head against the iron overhead decking and fell to the deck. He was helped to his feet and taken to a cabin to have the gash attended to by the ship’s surgeon, later reappearing on deck with his head bandaged. M. Joubert’s mishap followed a short period of bewilderment, caused by Dr. Laudet not being at the head of the gangway to receive the Port Medical Officer of Health (Dr. Russell), when ho met the sloop on arrival at the western wharf at 9.30 o’clock. Dr. Laudet had been called to the ship’s hospital while the vessel was in the stream to attend to a seaman who had injured a finger, and it was some time before Dr. Russell was' able to make those on board understand that the ship’s surgeon was expected to meet the Port Medical Officer at the head of the gangway. Although Commander Moron and some of his officers have a good understanding of English, the knowledge of the others is limited, and the situation was made no easier when two of the seamen jumped ashore to assist with the mooring of the sloop. Under the health regulations in New Zealand no one is allowed to leave a ship on arrival until the Port Medical Officer has granted the vessel its clearance, and this was impossible until Dr. Russell had seen Dr. Laudet’s papers. Dr. Russell ordered the sailors to'return to the ship, but they did not understand him and went on with their work. The cordiality of the welcome given Dr. Russell by the officer of the watch was not diminished by the incident, however, and after Lieutenant Vincent-Jones of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, who has been appointed liaison officer for the sloop, had arrived and made himself known to Dr Russell and the sloop’s officers. Dr. Laudet was brought to meet Dr. Russell. At first it seemed that Lieutenant Vincent-Jones would not be allowed on board' 1 by Dr. Rutesell, but his services were quickly found to be indispensable for an interpretation of what the French officers, were saying.

Shortly afterward, M. Joubert arrived, and it was when he, was standing at the head of the gangway, which wtjs some distance above the level of the deck, that the salute of a whistle and bugle was given him. He bowed, straightened up before stepping on to the deck, and hit the iron work of the boat deck, but was able to fulfil his duties after receiving treatment.