PENYBRYN’S AID

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1065, 1 September 1930, Page 1

PENYBRYN’S AID

CITY’S APPRECIATION EXPRESSED TO CAPTAIN 'VISIT BY DEPUTY-MAYOR With little unnecessary formality, the Deputy-Mayor, Mr. A. J. Entrican, this morning waited on the captain of the Penybryn, Captain Thorval Salvesen, and thanked him on behalf of the citizens of Auckland for the manner in which he had stood by the steamer Tahiti when in distress, and for the aid given in transferring passengers to the Ventura.

The official party, which consisted j of Air. Entrican and Mr. J. Melling, ! Assistant-Town Clerk, arrived a few minutes before 11 o’clock during a heavy rain storm, at the Penybryn, which is unloading her cargo of rawsugar at Chelsea. The city’s appreciation of the work done by captain and crew was expressed to Captain Salvesen, who received his guests in the ship’s saloon. “We realise that it is part of the sailor’s work to save life and to take extraordinary risks in the cause of humanity,” said Mr. Entrican. “In such an emergency nationality is forgotten. Although the actual service you gave in the work of rescue was limited to standing by and to helping with the transfer of passengers, you might well have been faced with the sole task of rescue had not the Tahiti remained afloat longer than had been anticipated.” Mr. Entrican then formally thanked the captain on behalf of the citizens of Auckland. A document to this effect will be forwarded before the Penybryn leaves port. Captain Salvesen deprecated the attention which baM been focussed on his “little ship,” which, he said, had done no more than could have been expected of anyone else placed in a similar position. The Ventura had been the better vessel for the comfort of the passengers and he had been able only to help with the rescue work. GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S TRIBUTE The Governor-General Lord Bledisloe has written to Captain Salvesen in similar terms of praise, expressing bis personal admiration for the action taken. “All accounts received have emphasised the intense relief which, after passing through many hours of keen anxiety and mental distress, those on board the Tahiti felt when the Penybryn was sighted, of the comfort which they derived from the knowledge of her presence alongside, and of the practical assistance so readily offered and so effectively rendered by you and your crew,” continues the letter. “The aid given by the Penybryn in what might have been a real tragedy, reflects great credit upon you and your ship's company, and in saying so his Excellency feels that he is expressing the opinion of the whole of the people of New Zealand.” The Penybryn will have completed unloading at Chelsea within a few days, but may then go into dry dock before proceeding to Sydney to load w-heat for India. Many passengers and members of the crew of the Tahiti will return to Auckland by the Tofua on Wednesday, and this morning Mr. Entrican intimated that if they wished to hold a public meeting in connection with the services rendered by the Penybryn, the Town Hail would be placed at their disposal by the City Council.