TWO RIBS CRACKED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23281, 17 August 1945, Page 4

TWO RIBS CRACKED

Governor-General Has Accident (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 16. While journeying between Niue Island and Raratonga during his recent tour of the Pacific Islands, the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, suffered a painful injury when the ship in which he was a passenger was stuck by a heavy sea and he was thrown from a chair to the deck. Two of his ribs were damaged, necessitating an X-ray examination and treatment when he reached Raratonga. A reference to his Excellency’s mishap was made at the national thanksgiving ceremony in the Town Hall to-day by the Hon. E. T. Tirikatene, this being the first public mention that the Governor-General had met with an accident.

Sir Cyril Newall and his party were travelling in the Fiji Government’s vessel, H.M.S. Viti, 1100 tons, which was placed at his disposal for the islands tour. They left Tonga on Monday, August 6, for Niue, experiencing a rough passage of two nights and a day. They spent a day at Niue sheltering from the weather, and later put to sea for Rarotonga. Two hours out the Viti was forced to return. When the weather appeared to have moderated the ship finally sailed for Rarotonga. On the way she encountered heavy seas. A particularly heavy comber struck the ship and the Governor-General, who was seated in a chair, was thrown heavily to the deck. He was examined at Rarotonga and, though in pain, carried out his official engagements on the island. The injury did not deter his Excellency from being present at the national thanksgiving ceremony to-day. It is not yet known whether the ribs are cracked, but he will undergo a further X-ray examination to-morrow.