SHORT OF FOOD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 96, 27 August 1913, Page 5

SHORT OF FOOD.

AT THE MAGQUARIES.

THE TUTANEKAI’S VISIT

[Per Press Association. 1

Invercargill, August 2(3. The Government steamer Tutanekai arrived at the Bluff. this evening after a visit to the Macquarie and Campbell Islands. The steamer was despatched from Wellington on August 13, as the outcome of a cable from Mr Eitol, secretary to the Dr. .Mawson expedition, in which it was stated that the Mawson party and Mr Hatch’s men on the island were in dire stress through the shortage of provisions. In June last Mr Eitcl had chartered the Rachel Cohen, Mr Hatch’s vessel, to take stores to the island for Mawson’s five men there, but the Rachel Cohen met with very unfavourable weather. She got to within about 400 miles of the Macquaries, but could not make the land, and after damage to her sails, anchored at Half Moon Bay, after having traversed nearly .2000 miles from Hobart.

The Tutanekai reached the Macquaries on Wednesday last, after having taken the stores aboard the Rachel Cohen. She found both parties short of provisions, and brought seven of .Mr Hatch’s men back to New Zealand, in addition to Mr H. J. Sawyers, the wireless expert to Dr. Mawson’s party there, who was returning for health reasons.

The members of Mr Hatch’s party have voiced a strong complaint against their treatment, particularly alleging that in their agreement with Mr Hatch, before commencing employment, it was stipulated that if they so desired they could return to the mainland. in April last. A ship never reached the island at that time. Food >vas short; and it being the.off season for both sea elephants and penguins, no oil could he obtained. The members of Dr. Mawson’s party were very reticent as to their doings, and are preserving the scientific data which they have obtained for publication when the expedition terminates. The wireless station has served well, and communication has been kept up with the headquarters at Adelie Land, in addition to the stations on the mainland, towards tit“ end of the year the exploring! sh.p Aurora will call at the Macquanes and take the men there to pick up the main party.