CHILDREN PUT ASHORE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18888, 22 December 1924, Page 12

CHILDREN PUT ASHORE.

.PASSENGERS BY ARAHURA. CAPTAIN'S CARE FOR SAFETY. [bz telegraph.—own correspondent.] GISBORNE. Saturday. ' A passenger having criticised the landing of about 70 school children at Lottin Point, when the Arahura could not tranship them at Tokomaru Bay, an explanation has been made by Mrs. George Kirk, who was a passenger for Auckland and volunteered to go ashore to chaperone the children. She states that everything possible was done for the safety and comfort of the passengers. The children were landed at 8 o'clock in the morning, Mrs. Kirk says. It was a fine day, and the whole experience, resolved itself into a grand picnic. The captain communicated with Te Araroa by the Tiroa's boat, through Mr. Wood, at Lottin Poi. t, and made complete arrangements for the transport of the children by land. Even then, although the arrangements were quite satisfactory, the captain would not allow them to leave the ship until he. knew they were being properly looked after, and that there was' someone to take charge of them. On their arrival at Te Araroa the children were sorted out by Dr. Wi Repa and sent on their journey, the Hon. A. T. Ngata rendering a similar service at Waiomatatini. As it actually happened it was really shorter for the majority of the children to be landed at Lottin Point, as they were nearer home than had they been landed at Tokomaru Bay. All the girls were at their homes or with relatives the same evening they landed.