VERONICA RETURNS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1061, 27 August 1930, Page 11

VERONICA RETURNS

THREE MONTHS’ VOYAGE IN ISLANDS COMMANDER’S LAST TRIP After a voyage of nearly three months’ duration, during which more than 7.000 miles were covered, the sloop H.M.S. Veronica arrived back in Auckland this morning, and resumed her place at the Sheerlegs Wharf, Devouport. The trip had occupied five weeks less than expected, the stay at many islands having been curtailed considerably. When the Veronica left Auckland it had been intended that she should carry the High Commissioner round the various groups, but he was taken ill and forced to spend two months in Sydney for treatment. The sloop left New Zealand on June 4. On June 13 she sailed from Suva for Rotuma, and theu visited the Gilbert and Ellice groups, the Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides, returning then to Suva. It was while the Veronica was at Suva, that disaster overtook the Tahiti, calls for help being picked up on the ship's radio aud sent on to the Philomel at Devonport. The sloop herself could do little to help, as the distance from Fiji to the stricken ship was little short of the distance from her to New Zealand. The Veronica is not a speedy craft, and could not have arrived until too late. However, she kept in constant wireless communisteps were being taken. MANY CURIOS

Numbers of interesting curios, including fearsome war spears and swords, were secured at the Gilbert and Ellice Islands by the captain. Commander G. W. T. Robertson. He said this morning that the natives throughout had been very friendly, especially in the neighbourhood «>f mission stations. At the New Hebrides alone they had shown a lather sullen spirit and kept well away from the warship, distrustful of her purpose. A fairly long stay was to have been made at Ocean Island, home of the Commissioner, but as he was in Sydney at the time, and influenza was prevalent among the natives, the Veronica waited only long enough to put the mails ashore. Leaving Coconut Point on August 22, the sloop theu returned to Auckland. This was Commander Robertson’s last voyage to the Islands in charge of the Veronica. He has almost completed his two years of service and will be relieved shortly by Commander H. Morgan, formerly Commander (second in command), of H.M.S. Dunedin. Three other officers. Lieutenant-Com-mander Spencer. Lieutenant Baker Cresswell. and Sub-Lieutenant Wade, will also return to England by the same boat after completing their term here.