THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 12, 5 October 1945, Page 6

THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE

for the Goodwill Cruise ~ PETER THE WHALER of WHALE ISLAND

FOR YOUNG READERS ONLY i

What what ho } ma hearties. Well the weather still seems to- be a bit changeable doesn't it. One day is clear and line with a light breeze whilst the next is cloudy and 'with a high wind.

T remember once it was weather just like this (only much worse) when we were oil the coast of Chile in South America. I was sailing in a four-masted barque at the time and we were ploughing along with all sails set. Suddenly there were four or five terrifically high seas and a howling gale rose all in a matter of seconds. The ship was fairly old and so was her gear, and she. . was never meant in that condition to stand up to much of a dusting. First the stu'ns'ls came crashing down in a mass of gear, lines spars and things. We began to cut ;hem away with axes ? when there was another tcrrific crash and the fore-top mast came down. The skipper bellowed at us and we started to chop that away. All the time there were sharp cracks as the r'yals and t'ga'nts'ls gave out, and thenWham ! Down came the main mast in a tangled mass of wreckage. It dragged the rest of the fore-mast down with and we only had the mizzen.mast and the jigger (the two at the back) left. Things began to look touglv but thie skipper never flinched. He still didn't flinch when the mizzen went overboard, or the jigger which followed it a minute later. He was a tough man that skipper. Suddenly a particularly high sea came, and before we knew where we wei'e there was a loud crash and the ship brolte clean in half. Yes the ship actually broke in half. As it happened all tEe crew Wo.re aft at the time; cutt'Hg away the wreckage of the mizzen mast. The fore part sank like but strange to say our part stayed afloat. The skipper paused for a moment while he thought what to and then he started giving orders. We brought up all the table cloths and sheets from the officers quarters (the men of course slept between old flour sacks which were in the fo'c's'le at the bottom of the sea) and set to work to sew them all together; there were not quite enough, so the captain ordered us to tal?e off our shirts and sew them UP too. Then we tore up part of the deck and made a mast set our tomemade. and off we went. By this time the hurricane had died down and there was just a normal breeze. Anyvvay } to make a long story short two -months later we sailed proudly into Valparaiso back, wards in our half a ship ? whilst a huge crowd stood on the dock and cheered. It was certainly .some adventure. Well sailors, the rest of the column must be filled too so I will have to say cheerio for'this week. P.T.W. LAST WEEK'S COMPETITION Whew! Talk about a boom coming over! My lee rail was properly under when I saw the number of entries I received for this competition. The postman was so bandylegged and breathless when he arrived that he could hardly whisper and be wasn't very pleased about it either. However after he had drunk half my tea ration and was munching happily on a couple of acid drops he calmed down enough to start on the journey home. But by Neptune's toenails. I certainly had a job in front of me, sorting out the winning entries. I have awarded this week's tickets, to: — Julia Morice Richard Conway Jill Learning Patricia Wells Alison Free. Congratulations sailors. I will print the winning entries in the page as soon as there is enough space. P.T.W. What I am Going - to tJo in the Summer Holidays Firstly of I intend to help

as she has been so good to me all the term ? but wlien the housework chores are finished I am looking forward to a good time, riding ? swimming and playing tennis. I shall not be spending all the holidays at Whakatane as I have been invited to stay at a friend's home for a few .weeks and expect to have great fun tlicre, although it is not near a river. It is fortunate we have such long holidays in summer, as there is so much to do in this season* Julia Morice.

SIGNED ON Ihe following new members have been signed on:— Lorrain Roberts Janice Goldsmith Patricia Wells Guthrie Smith. Welcome sailors we're glad to have you with us'aboard the Good Endeavour. Your certificates have been sent out ? and I have put your names down on the list for the For. est and Bird Magazine as you requested. Your a bit unlucky Patricia, yoii forgot to give me your address. As soon as you send it I will forward your certificate. Norman Pope has asked for the Forest and Bird I have put your name down on the list Norman, i P.T.W.

FREE PICTURE TICKETS

Remember that the free picture tickets awarded to the win. ners of competitions arcs good for Saturday afternoons only, although they can be used for either theatre. If you win a free ticket call in to the Beacon Office and collect it. P.T.W. NEXT WEEK'S COMPETITION TELEGRAMS Righto here's another telegram competition. Make up a telegram with each word beginning with the same letter. This competition has been very popular in the past and I have had a lot of requests to hold another. Send in your entries so that they reach the Beacon Office by mid-day on Wednesday, and the best four will receive free picture tickets- P.T.W.