FOOD URGENTLY NEEDED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 December 1938, Page 9

FOOD URGENTLY NEEDED

BY PARTY OF SURVEYORS.

KETCH SAILS FOR KERMADECS

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. December 30

Quietly leaving port on Wednesday afternoon, the auxiliary ketch Miena, with a crew of eight which had been hurriedly signed on, sailed for the Kermadecs, with provisions which are urgently needed by a survey party which has been working on the island for some time.

The Miena, owned by G. H. George and Company, shipowners, Auckland, was chartered by the Government specially to make the voyage, as the plight of the party on the Kermadecs was becoming desperate. No provisions have reached them for some time; two attempts to send food and other urgent necessities by the cruisers Achilles and Leander failed because the warships could not get close enough to'the island because of rough weather.

When the Achilles left Auckland for England via Suva for refitting, she took on board a large quantity of stores for the Kermadecs. These could not be landed because of the weather, so they were taken on to Suva, where the Leander was waiting. The stores were transferred to that cruiser, but when she called at the Kermadecs on her way back to New Zealand, those on the island were once more disappointed; the weather was unfavourable, and the survey party’s feelings can be better imagined than described when they saw the cruiser weigh anchor and continue on her run to Auckland.

In the meantime, radio messages from the party on the Kermadecs were received in New Zealand asking that provisions should be dispatched urgently. Stores destined for the island were sent to Wellington, it being thought that the sloop Leith might deliver them. Suitable arrangements could not be made, however, and the already much-travelled provisions were railed back to Auckland early this week. Further radio messages arrived from the Kermadecs, one of which asked that in addition to provisions a cow and three sheep should be sent. Arrangements were made to charter the auxiliary ketch Miena, which is regularly engaged to carry cement in the Whangarei-Auckland trade. All that was needed was a crew. Here difficulty was experienced because of the holidays. Two A.B.’s were signed on, but two ordinary seamen were not available. The Marine Department and the Seamen’s Union facilitated in every way the prompt dispatch of the Miena, which sailed with a fully-experienced crew.

The usual master of the Miena, Captain V. J. Sayer, who has a home trade ticket, went as first mate, Captain A. H. W. Burgess, who was for some years master of the. mission steamer Southern Cross, is in command of the Miena for this voyage, Mr H. J. C. George, brother of the owner, Captain Geoffrey George, signed on as “boy.” Mr George is a well-known solicitor and yachtsman who has frequently made long ocean cruises during his vacations. The Miena carries eight of a crew and one passenger and on the return voyage she will bring another passenger to Auckland.

She took with her when she sailed nearly 20 tons of provisions and some timber. An effort was made to purchase a cow and three sheep for the hungry party marooned on the island, but the live stock could not be procured in time. Till this stock can be sent the survey party will have to manage on tinned meat.