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Otago Daily Times, Issue 20930, 21 January 1930, Page 8

THE MOUNT COOK TRAGEDY. The tragedy on the Tasman Glacier, the details of which we publish this morning, stands out most painfully in its stark completeness. A party of five persons, four ladies and a guide, when making" the return journey from the Malte Brun hut was caught in a blizzard, and all perished. Apparently the weather was favourable when the party set forth, and the furious, blind* ing storm which overtook the moui/ taineers in an exposed situationj>as a sudden'visitation which, because it gave no warning of its approach, there was no possibility of foreseeing. Progress was impossible, human endurance was overcome, shelter was..far beyond reach, and the end was inevitable. The circumstances must only appear the more harrowing because they seem to permit of adequate description in so few words. The whole community will be painfully moved by so untoward an occurrence, and widespread sympathy will be extended to the relatives of those whose lives have been cut off in so untimely al manner. Tb/ fascination.. of mountaineering amid conditions such .as Mount Cook provides in magnificen prodigality are attested by jfC ever increasing number of those who hav enjoyed the bracing experiences am visualised for themselves the majestic prospects attainable in those high altitudes. But those alluring heights, so calm and cold, so beautiful and remote, can be pitilessly cruel, and man must be ever on his guard against them. The tale of Alpine tragedies in Switzerland and other parts of the world is a lengthy one, and so lon* as mountaineers are daring, and bent upon pitting their skill against risks and difficulties, it will be added to But there is a definite distinction in character and risk between adventurous climbing expeditions and glacier trips such as may be arranged for tourists as part of their Alpine programme. Fortunately in tf e ,v Zealand the toll taken .by accidents amid the ice and, snow has been comparatively small, although the popularity of our Alpine resorts has been noticeably on the increase, ibe sad break in this comparative immunity from serious misadventure which is now recorded occurs in the more poignant circumstances because those who lost their lives were not engaged upon what in normal conditions would rank as a hazardous undertaking.

nntifl 6 1 1 retu . l ; ns of infectious and other notifiable' diseases m the Dunedin and ever Hospitals fop the week ended at noon yesterday are as follows :—Scarlct inff e 2D a dS d - 4 ’ discha fS fed n > remainfce^SSST"‘,”ing 11 typl “ >i ' i

It is gratifying to learn that large numbers, of tourists are arriving at Dunedin on their way to Queenstown, Wanaka t * , au » and °ther resorts. As a matter nL £a a n S °* me ° £ the local hotelkeepers are not able to accommodate all the tourists coming here, and moreover, the accommodafaon is booked-up for some . months ahead. One hotelkeeper says that his bookings this season are heavier than has been the case for many a day. He expects the stream of visitors to last till well on to Easter.

New Zealand mails which were despatched from Auckland by the Niagara on December 17 for the United Kingdom, via Vancouver, reached London on Janu-

Stiil another addition to the long chain t C C Wll lamson * L td., theatres will shortly be made at Gore. The new theatre, which is to be another Regent, has already been commenced by the contractors and will be constructed on the latest and most elaborate tines. The seating capacity will be for about 900 persons. Mr H. Holmes, of Gore, is at present in Wellington (says the Dominion of Friday), f" d ' s ® aki “B fin al arrangements with *l. l? stern , E , lectric Company for the installation of its most up-to-date equipment. Mr Holmes has also aVranged with the him distributing companies for the best possible supply 0 f the latest sound films.

Two large centres of activity on the sun which were noted recently are now very close to the western limb of the sun (states a Press Association message from Wellington). The new area of activity is represented by a group of small spots which, on Saturday, was on the central meridian. This group - is increasing in activity. At noon on Saturday 20 spots were counted by observers at the Dominion Observatory. By 5 p.m. the number had increased to 25; whereas on Sunday there were no fewer than 30. Preliminary measurements show the new group to be some 81,000 miles in length, with a maximum width of 40,000 miles.

Negotiations for the acquisition of a valuable Maori pendant made from the riukahurangi type of tengiwai stone, which differs slightly from greenstone, have been completed by the Auckland Institute and Museum. It was an heirloom of the MauparoJi family, belonging to the NgatiKahungunu tribe living near the East Cape. During the early, part of last century the.chief Mauparoa became friendly with Pomare, a lieutenant of Hongi Hika, and with him conducted several raids into the Waikato, Thames, and Rotorua districts. Mauparoa married a Ngapuhi woman, and when his son,' Honi Hana, visited Mauparoa’s people at the East Cape some years later, he was presented with the pendant. The ornament will be 1-.. Wiir Memorial Mu'" l ".”*.

In a letter to the secretary of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Marine Engineers' Institute, Captain Rosa Clark, 6f the Manuka,-pays a striking and genetous tribute to the bravery and ■ devotion to duty of the engine room staff in connection with the wreck (states a Press Association telegram from Wellington). He says in the course of his communication: "In every respect, from the chief engineer downwards, they upheld the highest traditions of the British merchant service,” •

L The final committee meeting of the Outlam and original West Taieri School Sc-Pupile’ Association was held at Outr% on Saturday. There was a large atof members. All arrangements in connection with the forthcoming jubilee were reported to be, well in-hand. Everything was being done to ensure that the elder people, especially,' would enjoy the gathering. N ,

New Zealand is fortunate in getting such a man as Lord Bledisloe as its Governor-General, according to Sir Herbert Matthews, an English agriculturist and one of the trustees for the English bondholders in New Zealand .Perpetual Forests, who sailed for Australia by'the Maunganui from Wellington on Friday, There is no one who is more competent to speak of Lord Bledisloe than Sir Herbert, for he was his Lordship’s private secretary when Lord Bledisloe was Minister in charge of Food Supplies during the war period. Sir Herbert described lord Bledisloe as a thoroughly practical and scientific farmer, tremendously keen on anything to do with education and agricultural research. Lord. Bledisloe had made a model of his own'place in Gloucestershire. A slave to duty, he was one .of the most lovable and'kindest-hearted men the speaker knew.

At the meeting of the Otago Cricket Association. Executive' Committee, -held last evening, the proposed engagement of Mr E. T. Badcock, the well-known Wellington and New Zealand cricketer, as coach, was further discussed in committee. The chairmap (Mr G, A.-Wycherley) reported- hagffig interviewed Mr Badcock when last week, and it was ulwnately -decided to recommend-to the Fund Committee that an offer be tM. ade to Mr Badcock for an initial covering a period of 14 months Jfom February 1 next.

Captain (Tames Rankin brought the Union Steam Ship Company’s hew cargo steamer Kaimiro from Greenock to Wellington, via Panama, in 48 days, the average speed working out at 9.8 knots, lie vessel arrived at'Port Chalmers yesterday morning for docking. Captain Sahkjn told a. Daily,Times reporW that the Kaimiro is one of tie best all-round cargo steamers to come . to. New ; Zealand. ■ln ■ appearance she resembles the company’s steamers Kartigi .and Kaponga, but is more modern in various respects, including accommodation, and appliances for the handling of cargo. Her three masts each carry six derricks, and the funnel is placed near the stern,: The Kaimiro, which is the latest type of - cargo carrier, and is specially adapted to New; Zealand conditions, has a cargo carrying capacity of 3400 tons deadweight, her registered gross tonnage being 2562. The Kainuro’s sister ship, the Karepo, is now on her way to New Zealand; and is expected to reach Wellington about the end of this month-. After being cleaned and painted ■ in dry dock, the Kaimiro will sail for " Oamaru, Bluff, s Melbourne, Adelaide, Edithburg, Wallaroo, and Hobart. Ah appeal for £3OOO to provide a New (Zealand Memorial villa at the Lebanon international Mental Hospital at Asfurijmh, in Syria, will be launched throughout the Dominion shortly. The hospital was established 30 years ago by a group of enthusiasts in Great Britain, and its doors were opened to rich and poor, alike of all races,. creeds, and denominations. During the Great War the hospital.performed excellent service, ; and in .1918-was able to relieve the congestion in the military hospitals to the extent' of over 300; beds. It was a familiar landmark to maiiy members of the Australian and New Zealand expeditionary forces who participated in the pursuit and capture of the Turks in Palestine.' Some months ago?a few interested persons in New Zealand conceived the idea of raising funds to establish a New Zealand'villa at the hospital on the lines of the British, American, Swiss, and Dutch houses which are already maintained there. Owing to the increasing demands on the hospital accommodation, ..another villa is ' urgently quired, and it is hoped that New Zealand will seize the ‘ opportunity of leaving, a permanent memorial to the members of the expeditionary force who served in the Palestine campaign. \J . ' At a meeting of the vestry of St. George’s Church, Frankton, on' Thursday, it was resolved to place on record the appreciation of the members of the action of Bishop Gherrington in coming forward in such a whole-hearted manner to help the church out of its difficulties, and of the work done by him during the six months he-had been acting as vicar. Hi a action had made it possible for the work of the church to be carried on without payment of any salary, but it had meant a considerable amount of additional'work on his part. Speaking to the Maoris at the centenary celebrations of . the arrival of Samuel Marsden at Te Waimate, Mr J. G. Coates said that as a New Zealander-he was proud to be a fellow-countryman'of a man like Bishop Bennett and the Maori people. So far as politics was' concerned, there were three canoes, steered by Sir Joseph. Ward, Mr Holland, and himself. They were firing at one another, but no shot would be fired when any matter . affecting the welfare of the Maori people was concerned. Sir' Apirana Ngata and his colleagues were anxious to help the Maoris, and % Reform Party would help them in every way possible. He urged the Maoris to select their leaders carefully and to discuss their problems seriously. If they did that, and brought their decisions forward, all-parties in the House would give them sympathetic consideration. Captain H, -M. Rushworth, M.P., said Mr Coates had referred to three canoes. "I am not in any of them,” he added, amidst laughter. “ I am swimming in the water; and I want help, too, but if I find one hand free, and can help the Maori people, it is entirely at your service.” ,

It is not generally realised that the Dominion of New Zealand islands. The islands formipg the Dominion proper are the North and South Islands and adjacent islets, Stewart Island and adjacent islets, and Chatham Islands. Outlying islands included within the geographical boundaries of New Zealand, as proclaimed in 1847, are: Three Kings, Auckland Islands, Campbell Island, Antipodes Islands, Bounty Islands, Snares Islands. Islands annexed to New Zealand are: Kermadec, Cook, Niue (or Savage), Palmerston, Penrhyn (or Tongareva), Manahiki, Rakaanga, Pukapuka (or Danger), Nassau, and Suwarrow.

The Railways Department ’ advertises in this issue particulars ofalterations to Dunedin-0 amaru train services, operating from January 27. New shipment of violet ray machines just to hand. Ask for demonstration.— Barth Electrical Supplies, Ltd., 90 Princes street.—Advt.

Latest from England: If on a hot day your corns are worrying you put Is 6d in stamps in an envelope and forward to us. We will send by return post the new Clover Silk; it gives no pain, but relieves at once and cures.—H. L. Sprosen, chemist. Octagon, ■ Dunedin.—Advt. W. V. Stumer, GA..0.C., D. 5.0.1., optician. Consulting room, 2 Octagon, Dunedin. Most modern scientific equipment for sight testing.—Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Bagley, dentists. Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office) Telephone 12-359.—Advt. - Christmas Jewellery.—Compare our values. Just landed, large selection Diamond Rings, Reliable Watches. Jewellery and Silverware.—Peter Dick, the most reliable jewellers, watchmakers, and opticians. 490 Moray place, Dunedin.—