GATHERED GLORIOUS DEAD

Chronicle (Levin), 27 July 1946, Page 3

GATHERED GLORIOUS DEAD

-Press Association

schooner's sad task in tiie pacific

By Telegravh—

\\ F L L L\ ( r TOX , .Itily s'(i. Sailitig 170, 000 niiles, mucli of it 111 eneuiy controlled waters, during her vcurlime cliarter to tlie Xew Zealand Govermnent, tlie auxiliary acliooneiTagua lias ;jusl completed oue of tlie ino.st inqiort ant of varied mission.s entrusted to lier during the paM six years. For two montlis prior to thc 'I'agua's present visit to New Zealaiul waters, she roanied the Pacilic in tli." liual colleclioii of the remains of New Zealand war dead. This most recent task started with lier departure from Stiva in May Iast when she took Majoi A. ('. Lowry and Sergeant R. M. Underwood, iiiemliers of the Xew Zealand War Uruves ('omniissidu, lo the Gilberts. Tlieir nielancholy tusk was to neok tlie remains of the Xew Zealand eoast walchers and radio operators nitirdered 011 Tatau a after the Japaiiese oeeupation. Tlieir search was uithoul succeas. The remains of oue Xew Zealauder inissing 011 Oeean Island, were next sought uusuceessfully. At Kainui! they took posscssion of the remains of Xew Zealand airineu sliot down over tiie jungles of Xew Britain. From Kalmai ihe Tttgua sailed for Fmpress Augusla Bay (o piek up tlie bodies of six more Xew Zealand airineu (Tuni Turakina. Tlie Tagua tlicn wcnt lo Xounieii where her sad cargo vvtis unloaded earlv- this nioiith for luirial at the Xew Zealand cemetery al Bourail. Tu o New Zealauders have been with the Tagua through alniost tlie whole period of her cliarter. They are t'np tuiti Malliieson and his engiiieer, Mr. K. Garr. Tlieir crew is made up of U'ook Isliiuders. (in the ]iresent voyage (o New Zeu land tke Tagua brought an aircrai'l liangar from N'oumea for erectiou at Invercargill.