STOPPED IN MID-OCEAN.

Shannon News, 21 April 1925, Page 4

STOPPED IN MID-OCEAN.

.• ; * CANOE HAILS THE MAKURA. A WHITE MAN’S BURDEN. It is not often that a Royal Mail steamer is stopped in mid-ocean to supply fresh milk- for a sick child. That is what happened recently to the Makura, which arrived at Auckland from Vancouver on Monday. The Incident occurred on March 23, when the Makura was passing Hull Island in the Phoenix Group, about 300 miles south of the equator. A canoe from the island containing a white man and two natives was observed near the Makura’s course, and the occupants of the canoe signalled the steamer to stop. This she did, and the canoe went alongside. The white man handed up letters, which he requested be posted and also asked if he could obtain some fresh milk for his child which had been ill for nine months. Needless to shyboth requests were granted,’ ahd'in addition the Avhite man was given tobacco, cigarettes and a quantity of various kinds of provisions. "When the canoe , departed for the shore she was full, to ■ overflowing, and the white man went on his way rejoicings He liVes on the island with his wife and family and 14 natives. The man is in an unenviable position, as he is the agent on the island for a firm whose principal died in Fiji some time ago and the estate is being wound up. In consequence, the business of the firm is disorganised. The small steamer Dawn, belonging to the firm-used to take , supplies of stores and trade goods to Hull Island, but the vessel is now tied up indefinitely at Suva, and it is not * known when tEe white man will be relieved from his position and the trading station disposed of.