KAURI SHIPS OR SCHOONERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3119, 25 June 1917, Page 6

KAURI SHIPS OR SCHOONERS

Sir, —In. answer to "'Enginfier-Aichif led," ro the rig of schooners, I did nott accuse anyone of wont of knowledge. What I said was: "The report of an in-, lerview of .your reporter with an ehginy cer-architect is most amusing," etc. Hi would appear as though Mr.- White ha 4 taken a. week to find out the real of the "four mainsails" mentioned in the interview, and he has also obtained somei other information as to the namee of head sails. Mr. Whifce/inay have,had many years' experience of .yachting, but; many yachtsmen know; nothing of thg names of sails on other vessels, and we havo many examples of the capabilities of shipping reporters in dealing- ffitli bailing'^ehips. I do not pretend to be a 'Clever Cotre&i pondent." neither do I seek with newspaper reporters on any tnatJ ter, and more especially on subjects qnj which I have no expert knowledge. Nα doubt, Mr. White's sons follow in. theiij father's footsteps, but the combined fanw ily talent has failed to find the differ-* erics between the "main-tack" and v , the i "main-sheet," and I can eive Mr. Whits another week to give us the definition 05 a "buttorman" or "butter-rigged schoon-i er." The personal matters referred fa by your "expert" I can treat with con* tempt, for with thirty years' practical experience in yachting and boating, ana having'made a. study of all classes of! sailing ships a hobby, 1 feel I may laj; claim to some knowledge of the matter, although I do ;not nose as an "expert." In conclusion. I would remind Mry White that.be has admitted I was right 'as to the "four mainsails." There wad Tio other point in niy letter of reply. I did not ask for a schedule of the sails nor any airing of "expert" knowledge.-? I am, etc., JOHN S. SWAN, • June 23, 1917. •■