RENAMED CYRENIA

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5326, 12 February 1947, Page 6

RENAMED CYRENIA

former hospital ship leaves new zealand

The Cyrenia, best known as the Union Steamship Company's hospital ship', Maunganui, has probably been seen for the last time in New Zealand water s. She sailed from Wellington for Suez yesterday. In addition to the 21 members of the Greek crew who were flown out to take her back to the Mediterranean, the master, Captain Dandouras, enlisted six more sailors from New Zealand. The ne w owners, Compania Noviera del Allantieo, wero only able to get passages l»y air for the 21, and otheru wero to follow by sea. This arrango'^ent has been cancelled and the six Englishmen are working their passages back to England. They will go to Greece on the Cyrenia and the rest of the way on another of the company's ships. Before handihg her over, the Union Company had her painted an.l the engines survoyed. Aparl from niinor repairs to the loarting gear and rigging", she reqoired nolhing to be .iona ro her. "When she returned with the New Zealand contingent from Ihe Victory Parade. her engines were in tirst-class condition, and that is how they are now," said the Union Company's en-g-ineer, who did the survey. Only the niinimrni has heen done to her here. Fhe is lo be refitted when she gets back to Oreore. c Captain Damlouras said she had bnilt a long time — "lnit a ship never old." When she got back to Oreore she would be reeonverfced to a c-omiortable passenger ship and refitted: \vit:i all modern convemenees, to such an extenl that New Zealandei would not reeognise her, be said. Though she will be a Greek ship,she will be under the Panamanian Ha'-". Helped New Zeolanders Three members of the crew helped New Zeaianders in Greece during the v/ar, and all are glad to \i-it the ronatry to which they becaine dt-eply ai - tached during ihe war, and sinco. Gre.eJe is still dependent to sotne extent u'i Corso, and Ihe.v aie grat eful for the work of Cnrso and Unrrn. One of the crew hid a soldier in bis horne for two years, and another took three Kiwis from Piraeus, in Greece, dowu tu Crete. ' Few of ihe crew know more than a few words of English, but during their stny they were entertained in the hornes of the Greek jjeoi.de in Wellington, and were given every as: isiam-e by ihe ( Ireek Consul. Mr. S. Oarland. The chief wireless oll'ieei*. AI r. And"! Plytas, who had been an intelligeneo officer for ihe British in the andergroimd movement, said that the rhing Oreeks wanted niost was secnrity for themselves and their iarnilies.