A FRIENDLY SEAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22424, 21 May 1936, Page 15

A FRIENDLY SEAL

ADVENTUBES ON LAND VISIT PAID TO A CAFE SHOCK FOR SHIP'S OFFICERS [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY, May 16 A taste for coffee and curiosity about auction bridge are the reasons given by the crew of the coastal motor-ship Yandra, at the small South Australian outpost Ceduna, for the meteoric career of the most companionable seal that ever came from the Southern Ocean. Brought to Streaky Bay from Eba Island by a party of fishermen, the seal took to township 1 life like a duck to water and spent three days of sightseeing round the streets barking at all comers and enjoying life generally. He pushed open the doors of a cafe and waddled inside, presumably Jor a cup of coffee. The waitresses were terrified and it was decided to send him to sea again, He was placed in the Yandra, which was then at Streaky Bay, to be slipped overboard when the ship had reached a suitable distance from port, but he became friendly with the mate, who decided to adopt him. He was put in a large fish basket aft, and for the moment forgotten. Next he appeared when Captain C. H. Eickhoff, the purser, the second officer and the third engineer were playing bridge in the saloon. He jumped on a settee, the engineer sprang on to a chair, and the purser leapt on the table. They said frankly they did not like the look of him. The seal accompanied his visit with a series of grunting barks. His curiosity about the mysteries of auction bridge were not satisfied until lie had paid three visits to the saloon. But soon life afloat palled, and as the furry visitor caught a glimpse of the passing waves through an open porthole he dived overboard with a wave of his tail.

TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS LORD ASTOR'S SUCCESS A THRILLING FINISH [from oub own correspondent] By Air Mail LONDON, May 2 Lord Astor has won all the classics except one. The Derby has so far eluded him, although he has been runner-up on four occasions. The Oaks have b<>en his quite frequently. Now he is very hopeful that the Derby will come to hjin on May 27, special reason for the sanguine outlook being the success of his colt, Pay Up, at Newmarket this week, in the Two Thousand Guineas. This important race was also Avon by him in 1921 with Craig-an-Eran. Pay Up is by Fairway out of Book Debt.' He is trained at Manton by Lawson. The event had a very thrilling finish, for it was only by a short head that the colt won from the Aga Khan's grey Mahmoud, who was not so well fancied as the same owner's Bala Hissar, who all the winter has been regarded as a certainty for the Epsom classic. This week, however, in the important mile event at Newmarket, Bala Hissar was one of the 16 who " also ran." He was one of the first beaten. Three lengths behind Mahmoud was the outsider, Mrs. J. Shand's Thankorton. Pay Up's victory in the Two Thousand was immensely popular, yet he is thought a shade fortunate to beat Mahmoud by a head. The Aga Khan's colt, who was carrying second colours, jumped off slightly behind the field in an otherwise perfect despatch. To obtain a clear run, Donoghue, on Mahmoud, had to forfeit a little ground by going round some horses below the Bushes, and, with that accomplished, he brought his mount with a beautifullytimed effort to head Pay Up coming out of the Abingdon Bottom. Mahmoud stuck well to the task, but Pay Up finished the stronger to come again and snatch a short-head verdict. Thankerton, three lengths further away, was third, just in front of Rhodes Scholar, followed .by Monument, Abjer and Fairey. Monument, a fortnight ago, had won the Craven Stakes.