ISLAND NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6712, 23 May 1883, Page 6

ISLAND NEWS.

Apamama (Gilbert Geo up). Ik February last I sent yon word that the cutler Eose, which had been wrecked on the reef at Apamama some time before, had been purchased by the king of this place and again put into sea-going order, and that she had attain sailed, but had not since been beard of. The vessel having sailed for an island only five miles distant from the point of departure, and not getting there in two months, it was only reasonable that one should assume the vessel had been lost; but I am pleased to be able to state that my first information was not correct. The facts are these : The Koso left Kioria bound for Arannka, a distance of five inileSj there being on board at the time twenty-one natives and one white man Damed Charles Turk, the master. The cutter was driven away from the land in a squall. Then night came on, and the following day no land was in sight. The vessel was to leeward, and all navigators in these latitudes know that the equatorial current runs strong to the westward at times. I believe the vessel was not sufficiently ballasted, so that it would be difficult to beat her np against wind and current. Besides, there was no means at hand of obtaining a true position, and not even a chart on board. The young man in charge, M. C. Turk, had but just got up from a sick bed, to which he had been confined for some time previous. The vessel on leaving Kioria, from what I hear, had native food for about one week'sconsumption, also one tin of biscuit, and a quantity of salt meat. This, of course, did not last long, and bad they not caught several sharks, the flesh and even bones of which they eat it is doubtful if ever a second statement of the casualty would have been requisite. As it was, there were only two women, one man, and one child (native), that succumbed to their sufferings at sea, the white man dying after reaching Nanouti. The whole of the people were very much reduced by hunger, and reeled from weakness when they attempted to walk. They were treated with great kindness by' the people of Nanouti, and afterwards taken to their homes in an American barque, as near as I can find out, by name J. C. Seaward, of which a Mr. Moore was supercargo, who bought the cutter from the King for a very trifling sum, the King being disheartened by the sufferings of his people in her. Tho Kir,g of Apamama (Tem Binoka) has also shown his appreciation of the hospitality shown to his people by those of Manouti, by sending them a present of .canoes, tobacco, &c., a part of which is being sent by 1 the schooner Louie, by whom I send this letter to you. He also sends some natives of that island back who had been left at Apamama by a distressed labour vessel over 12 months back. This is the second vessel assisted by the King.—[Own Correspondent, April 19.]