The Calliope.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6704, 18 November 1889, Page 1

The Calliope.

« A GENEEOTJS ENTEEPEISE^ A great many people ha?o expressed their diaaatiaf action with, the tardineea of the English Governmebt in rewarding the splendid pluck and bravery of' Captain Kane and the officers and crew of the Calliope during the late hurricane at Samoa. It is true that the engineer has been promoted to the rank of Fleet Engineer, and, as the cable now advises us, Captain Kane is down for the next "good service pension of -£150 a year when it becomes vacant" (sic), bat very few will be inclined to admit that this ia anything like adequate compensation for the salvation of a splendid ship, worth at least to say nothing of the hundreds of lives on board. There is a sarcasm about this pension business which well accords with the decision of My Lords of the Admiralty and Lord George Hamilton, that as such instances of ekill and bravery were by no means rare in the British Navy there were no special grounds for recognition. It is true that the pension will ultimately reverb to him — that is, of course, if he lives long enough, and the j present holder decides to navigate the ethereal instead of the briny at an early date, but there is a beautiful vagueness about it that has cot done much to alJay the public feeling that some special mark of approval was deserved, and should be bestowed. What recognition the crew were accorded has never transpired — probably an extra ration of Jamaica rum or a second fig of tobacco was considered sufficient. Fortunately, however, where the humdrum routine of the department failed, private enterprise promises to step in, and the Waterbury Watch Company, always to the front, contemplatejpreaenting each of the seamen and marines with one of their new short-winding series, suitably inscribed, in honour of the occasion; Each man will receive at the same time one of their new ladies' watches for presentation to mother, sister, wife, or ' sweetheart, and no better watches can be I found than these, either as regards neat- ; nesa, ease of setting the hands, or timekeeping properties. Similar presents are to be made to the crews of the American 1 warships, who, although unable to escape i from the fury of the gale themselves, i were brave enough, with death staring , them in the face, to raise their caps ana , cheer to the echo the better equipped ship which, was able to force its way out in spite • of the fury of the elements.