STRANGE ADVENTURES

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1930, Page 7

STRANGE ADVENTURES

SHIPWRECKED 1 ON A DESERT

COAST

WELLINGTON, July 3.

Mr C. F. Northc, of Lower Hutt, whose creditable actions in connection with the wreck of the small steamer Limpopo on New Year’s morning on the western coast of Africa were mentioned in Press cablegrams, has returned from South Africa. He lias worked his way round the world, starting out last year in the Cornwall for England via the Panama Canal, and after a stay in the British Isles, going to South Africa.

It was on the voyage from Scotland to Cape Town that the Limpopo, a brand new vessel being delivered to her owners at Cape Town, ran aground on a desert coast many miles from human habitation, or fresh water. Two of the crew walked across the sand, with only the water and food they could carry, and suffering great hardship, to civilsation at the town of Luderitz, one of humanity’s farthest outposts. There they told of the wreck and a tug was sent to take off the remainder of the crew, who had Camped as best they could on the beach. The captain remained on the steamer, although she was Hopelessly holed. The voyager was thus landed in the most out-of-the-way place in the world, although lie had intended leaving .the beaten track. Luderitz is a remarkable town on the coast of the desert. | Water is so scarce that a bath costs several shillings. From Luderitz the crew was taken to Cape Town, and Mr Northo found employment in Durban until lie shipped in the Waimarino for Wellington. It is somewhat of a coincidence that the three ships in which Mr Northe made his longest coyages had accidents of varying seriousness. The Cornwall’s hull was damaged when she bumped the dock on her arrival in England; the Limpopo was wrecked; and the Waimarino, which like the Limpopo, is new, had rather serious engine trouDie just before her arrival at South Africa. It was the traveller’s intention to see the world at the least passible expense, / working in the. Countries he visited, and signing on as one of the crew of a ship when a change was desired. By seeing each country from the point of view of a man working for wages probably a deeper insight into conditions was received than many a tourist gets. - The state of England aroused Mr Northe’s sympathy for the average tradesman. The industries seemed to be poorly organised to meet vigorous competition, and tile employees were among the sufferers. Ke himself did not find difficulty iii Obtaining tvork there, although unemployment is so great. In moat putts of South Africa .skilled tradesmen ate In Strong demand, particularly in Rhodesia, where to anyone from England or New Zealand, wages seem fabulous. The cost of living also is high, but not in proportion. Strong anti-Bri-tish sentiment was apparent in parts of South Africa.