Ketch Reported Overdue

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30976, 4 February 1966, Page 1

Ketch Reported Overdue

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 3.

The External Affairs Department is investigating a report that a member of the staff of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Ted Thorpe, is overdue on a sea voyage in t h e hurri-cane-hit area of the Pacific.

Mr Thorpe is aboard the American ketch Marinero which was due to dock at Apia last Friday or Saturday. A departmental officer said

today the department had cabled Apia for information — but so far there had been no reply. Mr Thorpe left Wallis Island aboard the ketch a week before last Wednesday and was to have made radio contact with New Zealand last Thursday morning. The hurricane which devastated Western Samoa earlier this week has bypassed the Cook Islands. According fo a report just received by the Minister of Island Territories (Mr Hanan) the hurricane changed course and the centre passed Rarotonga about 100 miles to the west at 4.30 a.m. today. The New Zealand High Commissioner at Rarotonga (Mr

L. J. Davis) has reported the greatest damage done was to the main wharf at Avarua which was badly twisted. There have been no serious injuries or deaths. Power and telephone lines have been damaged and

banana plantations seriously damaged. The report said citrus orchards were not so badly affected. Two growers have lost between them more than 3000 palm trees, which Mr Hanan said was very discouraging to the newly revived industry.. Many sleeping houses and small kitchens have collapsed. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said tonight he was awaiting a report on the hurricane in Western Samoa from New Zealand’s High Commissione (Mr O. P. Gabites). Mr Holyoake said once he received the report he would be in a position to know what sort of aid would be required most urgently in Western Samoa.