The Wharf.

Manawatu Herald, 29 April 1902, Page 2

The Wharf.

We believe that some representation has been made to the Kailway Department by the Borough Council as to the need of life-buoys and grappling irons being kept on the wharf, but after making application all thought of the matter appears to have dropped out of mind, as though no such appliances are on the wharf, no correspondence on the matter, if any, has ever been made public. Our public men are very remiss in following up their demands on the Government and the town thus misses many an advantage which could be procurable with more insistence on the part of the applicants. The death on Saturday shows how important such appliances are for the safety of those having business on or •with ships. We had the example bow easily a steady man may meet with death from misadventure and- how, from the lack of materials to rescue him, he was quietly left to his death. Two men saw him in the water between the wharf and the steamer, yet all that could be done was to lower him a rope he was powerless to catch. The next step was for the constable to travel over a quarter of a mile to the Police Station to secure some grappling irons ! and when he at last returned efforts were made to get hold of the body. This valuable time was lost because ho grappling irons were procurable nearer, and during the time lost the current must have moved the body and thus it was not till 24 hours had passed that it was grappled with. Fancy the probabilities of saving a life that might have been had grappling irons been on the wharf; the position of the body between the steamer and the wharf would- almost have assured its being secured, and the time elapsing between immersion and succour would not have been a quarter of an hour. Acts of omission like these tempt men to say hard-things, for persona aro known to have been resuscitated a?t; i r hours of immersion. We are all too much inclined to put off douvr to-day what ought to be done at once, and thus some one, for the fault of many, suffers. We trust the rider of the jury, which the Coroner has undertaken to forward at once, will have the effect of compelling attention to the urgent need of at once supplying the appliances mentioned.