SIR CHARLES SKERRETT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20702, 27 April 1929, Page 14

SIR CHARLES SKERRETT.

HIS LAST HOURS AT SEA. PEACEFUL PASSING AT DAWN. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, April 26. Private advice received in Wellington gives some particulars of the last days and hours of Sir Charles Skerrett, Chief Justice. The writer says:. "The Port Denison, on which Sir Charles was a passenger, was despatched from Wellington for London on January 28. Sir Charles soon made the acquaintance of his temporary home, and about 11 a.ra. his attendant was wheeling him round the boat deck, accompanied- on his small tour by Miss Skerrett. A suitable and sheltered corner was soon found, and there every morning for nearly a fortnight from 11 o’clock till lunch Sir Charles was always to be seen, sometimes > reading, sometimes expressing interest in the infinite variety of small jobs the sailors were at work on round the decks. At 12.30 he returned to his sitting, room for lunch, a meal always taken: in company with Miss Skerrett. In the evening after dinner either the master, the doctor, or myself would stroll along for a game of three-handed crib, euchre, or latterly bridge. At ,9 o’clock Sir Charles retired, thus ending a typical day into which routine had more.or less inserted itself, » “As the vessel crept northward subtropical conditions, were experienced, though never at any time was the temperature excessive. Pitcairn'was passed on February 8, sufficiently close to enable a good view of the island to be obtained. At this stage of the journey Sir Charles looked as fit and as well as could be, indicating, 1 think, the beneficial results of a sea voyage. The abrupt termination of this steady' trend towards normal good health came as the greatest shock to all, coming as it did with the rapidity and deadly precision of a flash of lightning.“On the evening of February 11 the usual after-dinner game of bridge was in progress, when Sir Charles said: ‘I am afraid I am nimble to move jay left arm. There is evidently something wiong. Dr Murray, the ship’s surgeon, was soon in attendance, but in a short space of time Sir Charles-had recovered the use of his arm and wisely decided to retire to bed after the doctor had thoroughly examined him. We fitted additional fans .in his cabin in view of the warmer weather to come, - llnough the night Sir Charles was again taken ill—so seriously that he was unable to speak. Throughout the 12th he held fast on life. The master, following a consultation with the doctor and Miss Skerrett, decided that in view of the approaching hot weather it would certainly be a fatal move to endeavour to get Sir Charles through such excessive heat, so a decision to effect his tiansfcr to a south-bound boat was come *°‘i ?? 10 u uhine was the nearest vessel and little or no deviation of the respective true courses was required to brin«the two vessels together. ° ~ ' T ! le paster of the Riiahinc accepted the situation at' once, placing his services at our disposal. The two ships’ surgeons held a prolonged medical consultation by radio, but at 11 p. m . Sir Charles was slowly sinking, and all i caused that nothing would be gained by an immediate transfer. The. Ruahine was a,dvised accordingly, and throiHiout the remainder ■ of the night Skenett, Dr Murray, and his attendant were at his bedside. “ One by one the morning stars faded away darkness giving place to the wondei fnl light of a tropical dawn, and as the xvhisppr of the light south-east trade J n ' oko the silence, Sir Charles hkerrett passed peacefully away,”