WOMEN SEA-COOKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1917, Page 2

WOMEN SEA-COOKS.

ON SOME MOSQUITO BOATS. EXPERIENCES OF ONE OF THEM. It is not known to all men that many of tlio little coasters plying on the New Zealand coast now carry cooks of the gentler sex. The rarity of the other kind of eook has led to this, and since stewardesses are carried on more than one diminutive liner there is perhaps nothing very novel in having a woman cook too. The novelty of the situation, in fact, is more likely to be felt by the women cooks. This was the case on a well-known coaster which sailed on a round-coast trip some weeks ago. She took with her a woman cook, whose references showed her to be a mistress of her art. This opinion was endorsed by the officers and crew after having "high tea" in the smooth waters of the harbor. The seapie, it is said, was a dream. Then the little ship pushed out into the open sea, and after one or two attempts to enjoy her new surroundings the new sea-cook retired to the ladies' cabin, which slit shared with the stewardess. When morning came, the seas and the ship were still holding argument regarding the laws of gravitation. The cook attempted to rise and dress. But the walla of the cabin and the floor and ceiling becoming inextricably entangled, she returned to her bunk. Breakfast was a bleak meal, and dinner was of the quicklunch variety. But there was no ill-feel-ing. In fact, condoling messages, urging the amateur sea-farer not to worry until she had got her sea-legs, calmed her fears as to her ability to hold her berth—in the business sense. And towards evening the little ship ran into smooth water, approaching a port. The cook arose and set to work in the galley. Soon were wafted for'ard and aft culinary odours which made mouths water. As the ship swung into her berth "dinner" was serv? Ed—such a dinner! It is likely that it will be talked of on the coast for years to come. Any doubts as to the new cook's suitability were set at rest. ''A real wonder," she was pronounced. Dut in the dawning day, the ship put to sea again—and the new cook had not got her sea-legs yet, nor had she achieved them when the steamer reached 'Wellington

again, The captain was in a quandary. As a cook, the woman was more than satisfactory; as a sailor she was worse than awful. And, presently, the. ship's company learned that she was to be paid off. It cannot he said that ships' companies, as a rule, are unanimous to a man on any vital subject. But this ship's company speedily showed that they could be on occasion. All ratings mustered aft and asked for an interview with the skipper. The burden of their plaint was:

"Let us ksep our new cook!" The captain pointed out her shortcomings as a sailor. The deputation emphasised her splendid cooking when the ship kept on the level; in this the captain agreed, with reminiscences of the repasts which had been prepared while the vessel was in port. These rouiiiiiacenees began to weaken his decision. "She will soon }j-'t her sea-legs," the company argued. "And until she docs, we will help her,"

The stewardess concurred in this idea. and in the end the captain agreed to give the lady-cook another trial. So the ship put to sea again; and it is rumored that on the first day out Uio ..tcviivaes-i and i".onkeyman prepared lunch, for which the engineer had peeled the potatoes, a fireman chopped the wood, and a seaman washed the cabbage. When the new cook gets her sea-legs and the swaying of the small liner disturbs her no more, it is expected that that steamer will be manned by the happiest crew on this coast—not to mention the afterguard.—Dominion.