AN EVENTFUL JOURNEY.

Otaki Mail, 26 February 1919, Page 4

AN EVENTFUL JOURNEY.

C'HRISTCHURCH LADY'S EXPERIENCES. Miss E. A. Clarke, of Merivale, who left Christchureh in November, with the-object of going to India, to inspect and study the leper hospitals there, arrived back in Chri.steh.ureh on Thursday, after" a journey as full of incident as a journey of its kind cotdd 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, but after passing the Great Barrier the ship struck Heat's Reef, within fifty yards of the lighthouse, 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 Houtman —who had been 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 Houtman with the exception of Miss Clarke, who could not afford any further loss of time. The Nikko Mam having tried in vain to tow the Houtman off the reef, finally steamed for Thursday Island, where Miss Clarke was able to cable her friends. Upon making inquiries she was told that if she proceeded by way of Singapore and Calcutta she would certainly again be quarantined in both places, as the epidemic was very severe there. She therefore-deeided to give up her mission to India for the time 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 baek to Sydney—only to be again held up—this time by the shipping deadlock. However, she has finally returned to New Zealand for the time being, -but the interest she feels, in these hos- " -*iiß mission generally is so pitals ana ... '- Tndia. is only great that her visit to _ postponed—not abandoned.