TWO MEMORIALS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18008, 13 July 1928, Page 9 (Supplement)

TWO MEMORIALS.

VALOUR AND COURAGE. THE TROOPERS’ MEMORIAL. The outbreak of the Native War in ISG3 added considerable impetus to volunteering in Timaru, and in July, ISG6, a movement in the town resulted in the formation of a company of rifles —The Timaru Rifle Volunteers, whose services were accepted by the General Government in the following month. During a considerable part of its existence, the volunteering movement was looked on more as a recreation than as a serious system of military training, but it was evidently abundant in 1599, the year of the outbreak of the South African War, that the volun-

teering spirit was by no means dead. Right throughout the country there was a spontaneous response to the call to arms, and the citizens of Timaru were not found lacking in patriotism. When the war Avar, over, the citizens decided to erect a monument to the memory of the men who served, and to those who paid the supreme sacrifice, and this was unveiled on Thursday, February 23, 1905, by His Excellency the Governor, Lord Plunket. Prior to the

unveiling ceremony, a luncheon was held, at which a toast list was honoured. The luncheon over, the Memorial Committee and the guests entered carriages and drove to the memorial, which was situated at the intersection of High Street and the Main South Road, through a double line of cadets and volunteers. The then Mayor (Hon. James Craigie) was the first speaker, and at the conclusion of his address he read the inscription on the monument, which was as follows:

“This memorial is erected by the inhabitants of Timaru and district to the memory of those of their soldier sons, who died in action, or from wounds or disease, during the Boer War of 1899-1902. They deserve well of their country.’’

I-lis Excellency then unveiled the monument, a firing party fired three rounds, and four buglers played “The Last Post.” His Excellency, the Hon. W. I-lall-Jones, tlie Ven. Archdeacon Harper, and Mr R. C. Tennant also spoke. In the course of Ills remarks, Mr Craigie said that South Canterbury had sent 347 of her sons to tlie war—a greater number in proportion to the population than any other part of tlie Colony. .

BENVENUE M EMORIAL. From the late ’sixties till the early ’eighties, Timaru had a bad reputation among shipowners because of the great number of wrecks which occurred in ■ the roadstead. Timaru was not really worse than some other New Zealand open ports, but the people here heard more of the higher insurance of vessels coming here than ol the high rates for other places. The losses wore probably in most cases due to the vessels anchoring too close to tlie beach in order to reduce the work of lightering. The reports of early visitors declared the holding ground to he exceedingly good. Of 28 losses, seven were strandings, and out of the first 23, totalling under 3500 tons, only one was over 500 tons. Two of tho later wrecks were the “City of Perth” and the “Benvenue,” but tlie former was eventually refloated. Just as the eariy progress of the town received severe set-backs as a result of disastrous fires, so the prestige of the port- was seriously imperilled by this .succession of wrecks. The most memorable and the most spectacular of them was the stranding of the “City of Perth” and the loss of the “Benvenue,” on the afternoon of Sunday, May 14, 1882. On that fateful afternoon tho then harbourmaster, throe members of the crew of the “City of Perth.” and five residents of Timaru lost their lives. hho story of the light made by tlie boat crows to save the lives of the men on the ships is well-known to the older generation. The younger generation have oft-times heard ir repeated, and they have before them as a constant reminder of tho noble self-sacrifice made by ilie nine men on that Suudav afternoon the memorial .situated at the junction of Perth and Soph--, Streets, almost opposite the “Herald" office. Greater love hath no man than this, That he lay down his life for his friends.

It was at midnight on Saturday, May 13, 1882, that the sea began to make, and it rapidly increased in force. The vessels-in port at the time were the Norwegian barque “0. F. Fundi,” which was lying at the ballast ground- two miles out. the two Home boats, “City of Perth,” and “Benvonue,” in the inner harbour, and the schooners, “.Kate McGregor” and “Julius Voge,” inside the breakwater. The tide was then almost at the full, and as it. ebbed it increased in violence. At 8.30 on the Sunday morning, the “Benvonue” parted one of her cables, and she then Hew a signal of distress. Two hours later came the signal “drifting,” and in' the early part of the afternoon the “Benvonue’k” crew left the vessel and made for the “City of Perth.” The doomed ship struck within fifty yards of the beach, gradually canting broadside on to the sea, by which she was soon lifted high and dry. The “Benvonue” was-an iron ship of 919 tons. register, and at the time of the disaster had a cargo of between 400 and 500 tons of coal. She subsequently became a total wreck, and the cliffs in the vicinity of the wreck were named Benvenue. Hardly had the “Benvonue” struck when it was noticed that the “City of Perth” was adrift, and that she'was. asking for medical assistance. Four boats were soon seen leaving the vessel for the breakwater, one of these being from the “Benvenue.” The boats leached safety, when it was ascertained that the first- officer of “The City of Perth” had broken bis leg in two places in- endeavouring to clear the cables. His injuries subsequently proved fatal. The “City of Perth” hung to a single hawser for about half an hour, but then gradually drifted towards tlie bench, stern foremost, ■ bringing up against the “Benvenue,” her stern ■ touching the hitler. It was while'the • ve snel hung at tlie' singlej hawser- that, a series of disasters took place,'disasters which made the day memorable on account of its misfortunes. While tho vessel was straining at the hawser, the Harbour-Master at Timaru, Captain Alexander Mills, remarked that the vessel had been deserted, and lie got together a crew with the object of saving the ship. The members of tho crow were Captain Mills, Robert Collins, Martin Beach, John Reid, Emanuel Neilson, and Charles Moore. Captain McDonald, of the “City of Perth,” who was on shore at the time, evidently considered it his duty to go out to “'s vessel, and he did so, accompanied by Robert Gardiner, Philip Bradley, Michael Thompson, Isaac Bradley, William McLaren, and Walter Standlve. A third party, consisting of sailors of the “City of Perth,” also set off, and nil reached the vessel in safety. Later tlie three boats made to return, and the foremost two had practically gained the shelter of the mole, when the third, containing the members of the ship's crew, turning too soon, came broadside on and was swamped. The leading boats turned hack, and -had almost reached their objective, when they also wore 'overturned. 'The -spectators on shore were horror-stricken, hut they speedily launched the nhl life-boat, which had not been used since 18(J9. The crew consisited of La,, Bradley, A. J. Mclntosh, Andrew

Slniab, John Isherwood, J. Houlihan, Patrick Mc-Ateer, David Watson, and Thomas Martin. Splendidly handled, tho life-boats reached the struggling men, and some of them were hauled on board. Caught by a huge wave, the boat was overturned, but she righted herself, and the men scrambled back. A second time she capsized, and yet a third. Bravely the crew persevered, however, until all were picked up vT.o could be found, and then began the slow and anxious return to the shore. Fortune now held to the men, however, and eventually they reached safety. Before tho life-boat was launched, a surf-boat had been manned and an attempt made to reach tho swamped boats, and throe men from the latter were rescued. The surf-boat was manned by George Falgar, It. Wilson, William Oxby, J. Passmore, T. Hart, J. Croeomb, J. Thompson, W. Halford, W. Walls, T. Morgan, and W. Budd. Tho surf-boat proved unweildy in the heavy sea, and the members had to be rescued by a fresh volunteer crew in the life-boat. This crew comprised G. Findlay, C. Grulnn, G. Sunnaway,- J. Cracknall, H. McDonald, J. Henicker, A. Turnbull, J. Ivey, and G. Shirtclifl'e. Before all the men were got ous of the surfboat, it capsized, and one of its crew, George Falgar, was drowned. The life-boat came ashore, and returned with a fresh crew consisting of

F. McKenzie, J.' Le Roy, G. Sunnaway, W. M. Walls, H. Trusse'ot, C. Vogeler, and A. Blaylock. All the nic-.i, remaining on the surf-boat were rescued. The saddest part of the story remains, and that is to record tlie names of the men who lost their, lives. They were Captain A. Mills, who .died an hour after reaching safety, Robert Gardiner, second mate of tho “City of Berth,” Donald McLean, carpenter ot that vessel, William McLaren, watot man, of Timaru, and Emanuel Nelson, Martin Beach, Harry McDonald, ana Ccurge Falgar, boatmen', of 'Timaru. John Blacklock. iirst mate of tho “City of Perth,” died of injuries. It was to the memory of these 1 men, and to those who gladly encountered the peril of death, that the monument was erected.