AN EVENTFUL JOURNEY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1942, 20 February 1919, Page 1

AN EVENTFUL JOURNEY.

CHRISTCHURCH LADY’S EXPERIENCES.

Miss E. A. Clarke, of Mcrivalty who left Christchurch in November, with the object of going to India, to inspect: and study the leper hospitals there, arrived hack in Christchurch on Thursday, after a journey jiis full of incident as a journey of its kind could well be. Miss Clarke left New Zealand in the Manuka, and on her arrival at Sydney the ship was quarantined. After considerable delay, Miss Clarke left Sydney in the Dutch steamer Houtman, for India, via Torres Strait. They enjoyed perfect weather, hut after passing the Great Barrier the ship struck Heat's Reef, within fifty yards of the light-house, and stuck hard and fast aground for two weeks. The day following the mishap, in answer to wireless, the Nikko Maru came in sight, and stood by for a day and a-half. The passengers of the Iloulman —who had beer, warned to put what valuables they could into a suit-case, in view of the possibility of having to take to the boats —were given an opportunity to tranship, but Captain Goldhouse had shown them so much consideration and had so inspired them with confidence, that they agreed to stay on board the Iloulman with the exception of Miss Clarke, who could not afford any further loss of time. The Nikko Maru having tried in vain to tow the Iloulman off the reef, finally steamed for Thursday Island, where Miss Clarke was able to cable to her friends. Upon making inquiries she was (old (hat if site proceeded by way of Singapore ami Calcutta she would certainly again be quarantined in both places, as the epidemic was very severe there. She therefore decided to give up her mission to India for the lime being, realising that further delay would mean that she could accomplish nothing before the hot season commenced. So after some interesting experiences amongst the islands of Torres Strait she had the luck to get a passage in a coastal boat back 1,0 Sydney —only to lie again held up —this time by the shipping deadlock. However, she has finally returned to New Zealand for (he time being, but the interest site feds in these hospitals and the mission generally is so great that hex* visit to India is only postponed—not abandoned, and she was fortunate in hecxpcnscs, (ravelling and otherwise.