Boat Harbor Notes

NZ Truth, Issue 507, 6 March 1915, Page 5

Boat Harbor Notes

. + BY " BOATHOOK."

"Boathook" asked one of the sports who took part m the recent DauntlessResolution trip to the Sounds to send m the diary of the trip for publication. It duly arrived, and but for a little condensation, tho exigencies of space demand, here it is: YE LOGGE OF YE DAUNTLESS AND RESOLUTION. On February 3, at 1.15 a.m., the Dauntless and Resolution left Wellington, lt was a beautiful morning, and while passing down the entrance the Janie Seddon played the searchlight on the two small craft. Bulwer, the first call, was reached at 11.15 a.m., after a calm passage. The telegraph official at Bulwer treated both crews to an evening, and also supplied them with the latest war news. Next morning, Thursday, 4th Inst., wo were up early intending to leave for World's End, but a stiff, wet southerly set m and delayed us until lunch time, then wo sailed bfl. for Kawai Sound, whero we met the {renowned Mrs. Campbell. This lady has quite a command over the sea-gulls, i and one m particular alighted at her i feet to be fed. Mrs. Campbell fell m love at the sight of Ted Seager, who was | kind enough to convey her per dinghey ito the Dauntless. Sho expressed her endearments to Ted very solidly, but stated she would have to secure a diI vorce first from her second husband. After lunch wo Indulged In big game shooting m the bush. The two boats always kept m close company, never being more than 160 yards distant. Progressive euchro and cribbage tournaments were the order of the evening, and some exciting games took place between tho two crews. Tho trophy on each occasion being a bottle of whisky. The Dauntless winning the majority of bottles. Hero Jack Flynn was taught how to play the game properly and he Is now quite confident that he can tell the difference between the Jack of Hearts and the Joker. Rifle practlco was another sport on the programme, the targets being tne empty bottles, and it was while placing a bottle out of rifle range on one occasion at Wawal Sound, that Ted Seager took a compulsory dive off the stern of the dinghey. Ho had to blame someone, and Charlie Schauer fell In for this, ho having pulled the rope unsuspectedly. Will Talllasker shot most bottles and was duly declared champion. A special visit was paid to Pigeon Bay, wneru big game was met with. Ted Seager showed his prowess as a butcher by using the back of a sheath knife. Mrs. Campboll offered the boys a treat on board the Dauntless with her gramaphone, but for somo reason best Known to tho boys it did not come off. However, her boy (Joe Rosen) made up for it by relating somo of his oxperienfces. In one of the enrd games, Jack Flynn had' to be severely reprimanded by Referee Tom Fraser for trying to beat tho Eight of Hearts with the seven ot tho same suite. That night was so hot with our friends O, O. nnd Red Bar! (another chief) that double headers prevailed, but a German doctor, Setallts. by name, came to our assistance and did us all a powd-er-of-good. On Saturday the 6th Inst, mrewelled Mrs. Campbell und her sons at 9.45 a.m.. and made for Fairy Bay, arriving at 1 p.m. Hero we met Tom Collins, a real tip-top sport. The sand flies wero so bad there that Norman Francis was forced to spend a day In bod, but Talllasker shone as a nurse and kept hot fomentations going until our pal was able to bask once moro m society. It blew rather hard thero, and tho strength of the wind may be judged when it lifted the Resolution's dinghey right out of the water and returned her bottom upwards. Sunday morning, the 7th inst, raining. Later on it eased up and several of the party took to tho bush, but found little or no sport. On Sunday njght wo received a cordial invitation to spend the evening and supper^with Tom rolling and his wife, it was a big order to ask 9 big eaters to supper, but all tbe same wo xiont. Jack Flynn, the only orator of tho party, was voted to the chair, and his opening speech started with an apology for Charlie Schaeur not" being able to sit down, and who would havo to stand for the evening. It appears that Ted Seager had been waiting his opportunity to get one on to Charlie over the forced dive that he had received at his hands, and when the party were lundlng. Ted pushed Charlie oft the bow of the dlnghcv and poor Charlie took a seat m the water— hence the apology. .Monday the Bth, at 8 a.m., anchor was lifted and we set off for Ilavolock, getting along on a half tide' We arrived there at 10.?.0 a.m. Skipper Ted Seager got his hair ruffled somewhat on thu voyage, for the boat Just missed a snug, and Charlie Schaeur had his steering certificate suspended, and tho whole crew Kot a tongue-thrashing. Charlie says he blames the milk, but thinks tho whisky was all right. When all was snug with the boats we wandered around to Charlie Rhymes Commercial Hotel and laid m a new stock of refreshments for tho lockers, and. after n three hours' run, arrived back at Fairy Bay. Tuesday, 9th ult.. raining. Left for Crail Bny at 9.10 a.m., arriving 11.20 a.m had lunch aboard and at » p.m. called on Mrs. McNab, where we enjoyed afternoon <<?a. Wednesday, the 10th. tip early, started out In the rain with Mr. McNab on a pig hunt, but no pig* about, so shot at a few wild geese. That night it rained hard, so wo held a concert aboard the Resolution and. aided by Mr. Martin with his uce.ordeon (and he was well primed up to It) and atso Stan (.•audit., with his mandolin, we made merry music. What's more, Ted Bailey bought, an "umbrella" and Martin would persist In asking "What was m th" parcel?" Thursday, 11 lb, line morning, bft ('rail Hay at r. v.m. for Ship's Cow. the beauty spot of the Sounds, arriving !<t 11-30 v.m. Spent an hour hauling u.t fish like a lions.- a -lire. After lunch we left for Fast l':iy. \vhif- w*< met Dan and Kara Low and 'IV d Xt! •-, of whaling fame and lu-ard fome of

the hair-raising tales of the old.-: time whaling days. Ted Berg has sold his whaling boat. He states he has retired from the game. Spent the evening playing euchre, and, by the way, Jack Flynn won one game. (Cheers;) - ■ „ . Friday, up 7 a.m., and left for' Pic** ton at 11.5 a.m,, arrived at' 2,16 p.m.'v went ashore, visited host Jack Camp- : bell. Federal Hotel, and had such ft royal time that two members of the party slept on the land that night. On Saturday, had a good look nt Massey's new free boarding- house,' Chief Gaoler O'Grady taking Us round: Left Plcton at S.SO Sunday morning: for Te Whaiti, where we intended spending the day fishing and bringing the catch home, but chief of, the wea-' ther Bates had too big a say, for It was blowing 'evings hard. So wo went ashore and inspected the "trying out pots," "digesters," boats and gear of Mr. Norton. In the evening a con>cert was held, and much to the annoy* ance of tho photographer, Paul Reston, made a conquest. We are not sure but that it's Jackson's Head. Wo met a Mr. Dry. He keeps- tho Post Office, and his name is m keeping with his fluid passage, for he very often got dry, We returned to the boats at ll.So p.m., a sou-wester still blowing very tierce. Monday morning broke 'fine, and s« wo decided to start for Wellington -'at 9 a.m. Shortly the .wind freshened from the south-east, but anchor up as arranged at 9 a.m.. cleared Tory Channel at 9.80 a.m. Sea fairly rough after Sunday's gale, but made the trip across m six hours from Te Whaiti. Both boats behaved splendidly, which was better on tho .whole than the crews did, Here ended one of the most pleasant trips on record. The crows of tho twt> boats were as follows:— On the Dauntless: Ted Seager, Ted Bailey, Si and Tom Fraser, and Charlie Schauer. Oh the Resolution: Jack Flynn, Paul Reston, Norman Francis, and Char'llc Nixon. ...