Kindred organisations from scouting to religious youth groups were well represented at a civic reception tendered to the state commissioner for Girl Guides, Lady Wyndham.

Lady Wyndham's visit was linked with the annual Mid North Coast Regional Conference of the movement held in the Guides' Hall.

Forty-four delegates, representing local associations from Gloucester to South West Rocks, attended the reception for their state leader at which she and other officers were warmly welcomed by the mayor and mayoress of Port Macquarie, Ald and Mrs C.C. Adams.

Ald Adams said he understood that acquisition of a permanent camping site for girl guides in the region was one of the aims of the conference and promised assistance.

Tree's demise

A Norfolk Island hibiscus was felled on Monday because, in the municipal council's opinion, it restricted access to a motel.

The tree stood midway between the El Paso Motel and the Ambulance Station in Clarence Street.

The motel constructed a swimming pool nearby and this necessitated the widening of their driveway.

It was felt the tree impinged on the driveway, restricting access to the motel. At the municipal council meeting of June 9, the inspection committee reported on the tree.

The aldermen were at first inclined to save the tree, but learning that such trees were prone to attacks by beetles and dropped stinging nettles, they resolved to "axe" the tree.

Alarming, however, is the fact that so many of these trees lend beauty to several of Port Macquarie's streets. What is to become of them?

Tug and dredge leave

The tug Alice D, with the 1200 ton dredge Mathew Flinders in tow, left Port Macquarie late on Tuesday afternoon for Singapore.

Skipper of the tug, Captain Wilfred Sevilla said the dredge had been cleared of water at 5am, after a three-inch diesel pump had been worked for several hours.

He said the investigation then possible had revealed only slight damage.

The water, which at one stage reached a depth of 22 feet in the engine room, was found to have entered the dredge through the vanes of the propeller shaft.

Captain Sevilla said he and crew members had effected necessary repairs on Tuesday morning.

He said the damage could easily have been caused by the two fierce storms which they had encountered between Melbourne and Eden.

The tug's 14 foot power lifeboat, which broke away and drifted south on Sunday night, was recovered on Monday afternoon by a fishing trawler operating off Laurieton.

It was returned to the Alice D on Tuesday morning.

Prompt action by members of Port Macquarie Blue Water Club on Sunday afternoon, saved the dredge, which was in danger of sinking, from being beached at Flynns Beach.

The dredge Mathew Flinders, being towed from Melbourne to Singapore by the Panama registered tug Alice D, began to take in water early on Sunday morning, when 15 miles off the Port Macquarie coastline.

Skipper of the tug, Captain Wilfred Sevilla, radioed for help but, when he could not raise any response, headed towards the coast and anchored a quarter of a mile off Nobbys Beach before timely assistance arrived.