HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1969-06-12, Page 4,4 toQUI IItII H.SIONA L,STAR, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 1969
"if printers were determined not to print anything tilt
th¢y.w¢re sure it wouI,cr offend no one, there vyould be
very Eittte p Franklin
... Benjamin Franklin
It is our business
We were promised great things once
local school boards were amalgamated
into one and two -county units and these
L,iings may come to pass, but a disturbing
rortent is the ample evidence that both
-7e Huron -Perth Separate School Board
Ind the Huron County. Board of
:ducation are following ‘policies which*
limit public access to public information.
The boardsere only six months old and
,re just starting to tackle the challenge
handed. them by the voters last fall. They
haven't °time to build walls around
themselves when they should be trying to
win public confidence and support -for the
changes which, 'it is hoped, ultimately will
mean better fducation in Huron .County.
The two boards are by no means
equally guilty. . of this closed -door,
closed-mouth attitude which treats the
press pnd the public as antagonists of the
educational establishment.
The ' Huron County Board of
Education, ' which runs+ the public
elementary and secondary schools,
co-operates with the press and strives. to
keep the ' pudb- is informed ofits actions;
but too many of those actions are based
on deliberation in closed meetings. Much
of the board's time is spent in "committee
of the -whole" meetings from which the
press and public are barred.
The ternptation to confine 'debate to
the conference room and just ratify the
decisions in open meetings- may be an
attractive one, lout that procedure does a
great disservice to those who entrust their
children to the educational *system and
pay to support it.
Start
The number of pleasure boats in
Canada has passed the, million mark,
resulting in growing traffic ccngestion —
the condition so prevalent on ,highways —
on lakes, rivers -and coastal waters.
The sharp increase in pleasure boating
has generated the need fora much greater
emphasis on safer boating practices.
The Canada Safety Council in
co-operation with . the Department of
Transport is sponsoring and promoting a
new campaign this year to help fill this
need.'
Safe Boating Week, from June 29 -July
5, which is fully endorsed by Canada's
major associations and organizations
concerned with boating, stresses boating
'hazards, accident prevention methods and
safety...r-egu lati ons.
More than 300 Canadians ,are killed in
boating accidents every year, substantially.
more than are .drowned while swimming.
Statistics gathered by the Council and
other safety Organizations show that
two-thirds of these fatalities are caused by
faulty boat operation and fully one-half
by recklessness, overloading and sailing
unseaworthy craft.,
The . great need for boat safety
education is clearly demonstrated by
figures showing that more than 80 percent
of 'people drowned in these accidents were
not wearing lifejackets.
Recklessness covers the "buzzing" of
other craft and shores by power boat
operators, a practice which has taken the
edge off holiday enjoyment for many
vacationers. It is ' also, illegal.' Another
reckless brut common practice is night
The Huron -Perth Separate School
Board, whose domain is limited to the
Roman Catholic elementary schools, . but
whose responsibility is no less weighty,
has taken the incomprehensible and
intolerable position that\the public has no
right to scrutinize its actions and need not,
be told what it is paying its teachers.
if reports of this week's meeting and
the statements oti.,,a, spokesman were
accurate, the , separate school board
considers it sufficient to issue an
antiseptic and sterile "approved" press
release announcing a pay •hike of six to
eight'percent. °
In reply, to questions -about the salary
schedule, -the spokesman is reported to
have said '"It's none of the public's.
thusiness."
Whose then is it? Are web believe that
-by winning an ' election the board
members became infinitely wise - and
infallible? Are,we to accept the idea that
by electing representatives the public
relinquishes all control over the schools
on which it depends and for which it
provides the wherewithal?
If the separate.school board is sincerely
concerned about, the fact that St. Joseph's
'Sc'hool in Clinton may *have *only' one
first -grader next year, if the board seeks
greater public. understanding and
confidence, it will have to reconsider_ its
own attitude and the image it presents.
We are afraidsome of our educational
leaders have been taking lessons from the
:.school of back -room polities of the sort
that creates a skeptical, 'disbelieving .and
distrusting citizenry. A more progressive
guide would be more fitting for the new
school boards.
pinking
Clinton Views -,Record
power boat operation without the
required operating lights.
Overloading" -can be anticipated when
you see a car carrying five adults and a
car -top' 12 -foot boat. Everybody wilt get
into that boat when it is launched and it
will be dangerously over -loaded.
U nseawort-hy . craft include
Aver -powered boats and those with rotting
hulls being sailed for "just one more
season." .
The increased congestion of the
waterways ,requires boat operators to
know the rules of the road in collision
course and passing situations as well as the
necessity for a power boat operator to
yield the right • of , way to sailboats,
rowboats and canoes.
The amateur hour- for .boating has
ended now that bigger and more. powerful -
,pleasure boats ' require operator skills
considered by commercial sailors to be at
least as demanding as those needed by a
motorist.
Defences against boating hazards are
not difficult to learn and small boat safety
ri_gulations are clear and to the point. Safe
boating practices increase the operator's
sense of security and the pleasure of boat
passengers as well as thase of other "boats
and all vacationers.
We have good boating facilities in
Goderich and, hopefully, these will be
improved and expanded as time goes by.
Let's not marr the pleasure of those who
use these facilities by having a senseless
accident that could take someone's life.
All it takes to prevent a disaster is a little
thought. Start thinking.
THE FERRIS WHEEL
Photo by AlcG
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LOSS -O0,,PEWAB1C IN
LAKE HURON RATED
By Fred Landon
The' Great Lakes have a lengthy toll of tragedies in the' loss of
ships but no tragedy would seem to have less reason than the sinking
of the passenger steamer Pewabic on an August night in 1865 on
Lake Huron. Though more than 75 years have passed' the loss of the
Pewabic has not been forgotten, one reason being that within quite
recent times -divers succeeded in salvaging a part of her valuable
cargo,from a depth which would in the past have been considered
much beyond the range of diving activities.
The Pewabic was sent • to the bottom by her sister ship, the
Meteor, both of which were owned and operated by the firm of
Whiting and O'Grady. She was a passenger vessel of the type then
commonly operated, not unlike some older vessels still trading if one
may judge by pictures of the vessel. She had one mast aft of the,
wheel house and a superstructure of cabins on her deck. Her cargo
on her last trip consisted almost entirely of pure copper which she.
had taken on at Houghton, Mich, This weighty cargo sent her to the
bottom more quickly ,than would have been the case with an
ordinary cargo' and it was this copper which was rezovered to a
considerable extent in later years.
From -the few survivors of the 180 passengers on board,
statements were received at the inquiry made later into the disaster.
The collision came about 9 'o'clock at night, the weather being -a
little Misty and rainy but by no means sufficient to account for the
accident. Persons on the Pewabic saw another steamer approaehsing -
and An/ere informed by the lookout that if was the Meteor of the
same line. The. vessels were accustomed to passing off Thunder Bay
and it was said that sometimes they passed so closely that the
down -bound vessel would be able to get from the up -bound vessel
the latest Detroit daily papers.
"As the Meteor approached, said one witness later, "she was on
.the port side and suddenly seemed to change her course, as it were
to cross the bow of the Pewabic and pass on the starboard side. the
crash came almost in an instant. The bow of the Meteor struck about
25 or 30 feet from the Pewabic's bow, cutting a deep gash in the side
of the latter vessel, and causing her to. fill with"water and sink in an
incredibly short time. In fact there was practically no effort made to
save the ship, but only to save the passengers."
Samuel T. Douglas, one of the survivors, said that when the vessels
collided he ran -to a cabin and secured a life preserver. Going to the
stern of the ship he found that the two vessels had come soclose
together they were separated by onlya few feet. Hands were held
out to him from the Meeteor and he' jumped, but missing his grip fell
between the two ships. He managed to keep afloat for the better
part of an hour until he was finally pulled on a raft, being later
picked pp by a boat. Other survivors had equally terrifying
Remember When ? ?
55 YEARS AGO
The music Loving ,population
of Goderich gathered in Victoria
,25YEARS AGO
There is much conjecture in
Goderich and throughout Huron
opera house on Tuesday night county as to the future of Sky
-last to listen to . Mr. David Halt " r, which is to be.
Duggan, the celebrated Scotch < abandoned as a Commonwealth
tenor, who came here from . training station on July 14th.
Detroit to give, a concert which Enquiries are being made as
was held under the auspices of to whatis to be done about the
the Central school. Mr. Duggan 24th of May this year: Last year.,
has an exceedingly mellow and although it was not officially a
rich voice and in the different . ,holiday, it.„was pretty generally
registers . is very well toned. observed as one- an Goderich,
However, in that volume of sound schools and stores closing for the
it appears that sometimes the ° day. So far as the schools are
pronunciation is lost or almost' concerned, the matter is settled
entirely so. In singing his various by an amendment to the School
songs he has a pleasant facial Act passed at therecent session
expression end sings- with of the Legislature, which decrees
considerable feeling. that May 24, June 8 (officially
jhe Village of Tara was the , King's birthday). and
almost wiped out by fire early November 11 (Armistice Day)
Saturday morning. The loss is are to be school holidays.
about 520,000. After four years in the army,
On Friday ,night last the 'Trooper:- Leslie Riley,
curfew issued its warning font& twenty-three. years of age, is
first time to all "kids" under 15 home, battle -scarred but
years of age. Each night cheerful, and received a hearty
afterwards, with the, exception welcome from friends and the
of Sunday, it will tinkle at nine townspeople generally.
o'clock. A small bell on the top The famous Chin trio of
of the town hall is used for the Lucknow . are to have their
purpose. opportunity in metropolitan
There died in Dungannon on hockey, It was announced last
Friday morning last one of the week„thatthey have been' signed
most highly,,, respected and by Detroit Red Wings of the
beloved men in the county of National Hockey League and are
Huron, in the person of John to report in October for fall
ESTABLISHED 122nd YEAR
t!L' (pirrtct122nd
of
—0— The County Town Newspaper of Huron ---p-- PUBLICATION
, Published at Goderich, Ontario every Thursday morning by
Signal -Star Publishing a ,imi'ted
ROBERT °8. SHRIER
President and Publisher
RONALD P. V. PRICE
Rltseging Editor
EDWARD 1. BYRSII
Advertising Sales
Massie Roberts. He had only training.
been sick a few days and was 10 YEARS AGO
thought to be recovering when
death's sudden call came. He was Lake grain carriers have
withina few days of 72 years of swung into action for the season
'age and was the youngest son of and the two elevators at— Farmers chose their first King
the late Wm. Brewer Roberts, Goderich harbor are once again and Queen at, Londesboro last
M.D., F.R.C.S., and Frances being filled up with grain from Saturday evening when
A group .of four 'men are
seeking a location • in Goderich
for an I G.A. store. They have
applied to. Town Council for .a
building permit which is under
consideration. Although no sales
have been finalized, two
diff'ererit business establishments
in Goderich have -prospective
buyers looking them over. steamboat Commerce, owned by McPherson, ,Crane & Co. on her
An old curfew bylaw, passed voyage with troops. She came into collision near Port Maitland with
in 1899, compelling children the steamer Despatch shortly after 12 o'clock Monday night and
under 15 years to keep off the sank in eight fathoms of water. She had on board 150 men of the
street after nine o'clock at night 23rd Regiment and we grieve to say that 38 persons met a watery
will be enforced. grave. Of these one was an officer, 22 privates and 13 'women and
ONE YEAR AGO children connected with the regiment; of the remaining two, one
belonged to the steamer and the other was a lad of 14 years of age,
the son of a gentleman residing in Montreal.
The Hamilton Spectator gave some further details of the tragedy: -
"The surgeon of the regiment. (Douglas Grantham), a young lad
named Rodgers, -and the second engineer, William Colborn, ran up
the rigging and unfortunately became,entangled' and lost their lives,
when the vessel went over., The boats were speedily got out, but
owing to the panic they were either sunk or capsized and many who_
had taken -refuge in them were drowned."
In the diary of Charlotte Harris, under date of May 10, there is a
note on the arrival in London of the shipwrecked soldiers who were
no strangers to the town since this regiment had previously been
stationed in London. They first arrived in the town in June, 1843,
taking the place of the 14th Regiment. The London Herald, in its
account of the .regiment, said that the men were drenched by a
rainstorm through which they had marched and that their White
trousers were muddy 'to the knees. Apparently they had come' by
experiences.
,A lake collision of similar character took place in 1850 when the
steamboat Commerce, en route from Montreal to Port Stanley with
a part of the 23rd .Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was sunk by the steamer
Despatch near Port Maitland. In the Port Maitland cemetery there is
a monument erected to the memory of the 36 soldiers who „perished.
•
T -he Montreal Witness of May 13, 1850, said of the accident: "We
were informed by -telegraph; on Tuesday evening of the loss of the
David Royal was elected
president of the Goderich
District Collegiate 'Institute
student council for the coming
year with a 50 per cent majority
on the first ballot.
Vice-president for 1968-69 will
be Brenda East; social convener
Betsy Jerry. Past ,,president . of
the student council was John
White.
John Kane, vice-principal at a
Sarnia public school for the past
3 years, and a recent graduate of
Queen's University, Kingston,
will take over duties as principal
of Robertson Memorial Public
School, Goderich, in September.
Goderich Lawn Bowling Club
held its opening. day Monday, boat to Port Stanley and were then marched to London. Some of
Victoria Day, at the bowling those who were in the regiment in its first stay in London may have
greens on Picton Street. About been among those who perished on the way in 1850.
le one of th m from
judged on three-minute
•speeches, personality and
appearance and 4-H and Junior
Farmer 'Achievement. Fred
Uhler was named King and Miss
Barbara Watkin, R.R. 1,
Londesboro was named Queen.
The Red Cross Blood Clinic
10 peop ,
Orillia, attended. the opening
day, The first big tournament
will take place on July 1. , '
Huron County Junior
Subscription Rates $6 a Year -- To U.S.A. $7.60 (in advance)
Second class mail registration nul.mber — 0716
Roberts, of London, England. • the Lakehead. con
THAT'S LIFE!
By G. MacLeod Ross
SOUTHERN 'SPEECH.
As you browse about the south the impression is gained that
some names Must have achieved their modern spelling because they
were only "heard" and never written out. For example: Sampit
might well have been Sandpit. Highmarket could have been a
mis-heard Haymarket. In the Welsh part of Pennsylvania, where you
meet -such place names as Bryn Mawr, Llanelly, Cynwyd, Llanbefis
that this was origiere n lly GUELPH. Every Garden eat play with the name UClubx.'?�ejt..transpirs
member insists
on referring to such things as thyme, rosemary, chives, as "ERBS."
You ca not_help feeling that this pronunciation was brought here by
a Lanchire gardener, many of whom were so translated. Meaning
HERBS, he colloquially -called them 'ERBS to his mistress and so she
calls them to this day. -
A similar Case occurred with an old English coachman, who called
his horse 'EGG.' When suitably pressed, he admitted it was called
after Field Marshal Haig. And so the fracturing continues even to
this day. How about HIGH PARK? Wasn't it meant to be HYDE
PARK?
Remember that all this mayhem was committedbefore the eta of
the hearing aid.
SUPERSgNIC.TRANSPORT. (SST)
' The Soviets test -flew their TU 144 last December. The
Anglo-French Concorde has been flown three months behind the
Soviets. The U.S. model: 300 passengers, 1800 miles per hour
Boeing SST, if begun this year, could be delivered in 1976-78. The
-company hopes to sell 500 at $37 million per copy with government
help. It could • take $20 billion of an estimated $25 billion market.
Of the 500 craft on order, 270 are for foreign buyers. It will fly at
supersonic speeds only over oceans and deserts, so there will be no
sonic boom over populated areas. When have we heard that one
v -before?
testants from four dubs were
was held last Wednesday in the
auditorium ofo Knox s
Presbyterian Church, Goderich.
Two hundred and sixty-eight
people donated blood at the
clirfii6, 'second-highest number in
the history of the local Red
Cross.
0
NO BACKS - MEATY
CHICKEN LEGS
SAVE -30c LB. -- TENDER
ROUND .STEAK
D ROASTS
HOMEMADE
EAD CHEESE
lb. 49
Ib. 594