A HARBOR BLAZE.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1926, Page 4

A HARBOR BLAZE.

OWNER’S NARROW ESCAT’E. AFC FI. A.\T). March M. Fire destroyed the launch “Waireio.” worth £BOO. oil' Dcvonporl wharf at 3.15 o'clock tin Saturday afternoon, and the owner. Mr Robert Maynall. who was overcome by fumes in an endeavour to quench the (lames, fell overboard unconscious. He was rescued by his two companions. When drifting opposite the wharf, one of the crew noticed that a fire had broken out in the engine room, and May nail went below immediately with n small chemical extinguisher, hut the flow from this proved useless. He then set to work with blankets and tried to put out the lire. Sooil the strong benzine fumes overcame him. and lie just managed to reach the deck. There he collapsed, and fell overboard. Not realising lor a moment that their skipper was unconscious. Messrs A. and F. Williams, who were on the launch, saw Maynall sink twice. As he came up the third lime, they both dived to rescue Kim. Holding Maynall under the armpits, they contrived to keep bis head above water while they clung to the launch, which was soon blazing from end to end. Relief came when I lie launch Esme drew near, racing at top speed from a distance. After taking the hapless trio aboard, the crew of the Esme made a great effort to save the AVairete. The flames were leaping high, and ii was found , io he a hopeless task. ] A large crowd Kail assembled on Ihe i

wharf, and the rescue of Maynall. the timely arrival of the Esme, and the efforts to save the AVairete provided some exciting moments. The Devonport Fire Brigade, summoned by one of the crowd, could do nothing till the vessel had drifted to the rocks oil the eastern side of the wharf, when the launch came within distance of a hose.

Water was then played on her blazing length. When she struck the rocks, however, she was badlv charred, being almost totally destroyed. Dr Rout attended to Mr Maynall, who was found to be suffering from shock more than anything else, and the doctor later motored all three to their homes.

Described an the most elaborate and ■ up-to-date vessel of its kind in the j harbour, the Wairete. which cost her j owner €BSO. was insured for £SOO. She i was a 2S h.p.. (i-eylinder, self-starter j boat, fitted with electric light and all j modern equipment. The launch was 1 practically new. ! The origin of the tire is unknown. It was suggested by the crew that the engine had hack fired and hurst a pipe leading to the petrol tank, located near ! the bow, in a separate compartment. I

CAUSE OF PALE BABIES. TIIE DEEP, DARK PRAM. The big perambulator at present in fashion is condemned by Dr Doreen Nixon and Dr John Nixon, of Clifton, Bristol, who write to the “ British -Medical Journal ” : The modern baby is apt to be pallid, even though it may be plump and muscular. The modern perrambulator is deep and dark, so that a small infant lying at the bottom of it. covered with a water-proof apron of some dark material and shaded by the hood, is out of reach of any sunshine or daylight.

"We found our infant daughter at the age of two months pasty-faced and wnite. though thriving well enough as regards weight and general nutrition. Tier diet of Grade A milk suited her admirably and she took sJo ■/.. (diluted with 1 Jos?, of water) every three hours. There seemed no reason for changing her diet. So we tried the effect of bringing her up to the surface, placing a light wooden tray in the pram at such a height that with her mattresses the baby lay not more than four inches below the sides of the pram. The hood and mackintosh apron are only drawn up when it is actually raining. In three days the child’s complexion changed from a pasty white to fresh pink, and so it has remained. This note may lie of value in directing attention to the drawbacks ol a dee)) pram and the advantages ol raising the infant occupant up into the light of day.

BEKR-PR INTvTNG DON KEY. LONDON, January 2. Among the goods and chattels discarded by one of the units of the Rhine Army before their move lrom Cologne to Wiesbaden is a regimental, or rather unit, mascot. “ The Old Moke,” a genuine Jerusalem donkey, the pet of the 7th Field Company, Royal Engineers. Right from his earlv days, when as a baby donkey he was adopted in Palestine by the Engineers, he was brought up on the bottle—of beer. He made* a practice of wandering into the stables uhen the feeds were down and secured the choicest morsels before the horses arrived.

Ilis supreme discovery was that the canteen opened at noon. Just before midday “The Old Moke” took his post at the door of the sergeants’ mess or men’s canteen and practically demanded his pint of beer, for if one were not immediately forthcoming he would obstruct the entrance until bribed with a pint or more to remove himself. If lie was still thirsty the performance would he repeated at another canteen.

Me was always in great demand on sports days when the children could do anything with him provided the libations were numerous; otherwise he would lie down, when nothing but a pint or two would induce him. to resume his part of giving donkey rides. Now he is an inmate of the Zoo, the Cologne City authorities having accepted him for exhibition as a fine specimen of his kind and given a guarantee that he will not he killed or disposed of.