TOUR OF ISLANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 July 1939, Page 7

TOUR OF ISLANDS

LORD AND LADY GALWAY GET WARM WELCOME VISIT TO NORTHERN GROUP. SOME RISKY LANDINGS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. RAROTONGA, July 20. In the northern Cook Islands Group their Excellencies Lord and Lady Galway received a warm welcome in the Islands of Penrhyn, Rakahanga, Mani hiki, and Pukapuka, and they derived much pleasure from the visit. At each 'island there were the usual native feasts, dancing and singing, and their Excellencies received many gifts denoting the goodwill of the people. In Penrhyn Island their Excellencies were greatly interested in witnessing pearl shell diving in the lagoon. H.M.S. Leander arrived in Rarotonga yesterday afternoon, but on account of the weather conditions at the anchorage sailed in the early hours of this morning for Bora Bora. A radio message received by the Press Association from H.M.S. Achilles records tumultuous welcomes by the entire inhabitants of the islands visited. Many of the smaller islands had never before been visited by a Gov-ernor-General. The weather has been fine in the islands, with an average day temperature of 85deg in the shade. Lady Galway accompanied the Governor-Gen-eral to all the islands and was undeterred by the danger of shooting the reefs in native outriggers or open whaleboats.

The landing in Danger Island was the most difficult yet in the tour. Many of the Achilles’ crew were forced to abandon the outriggers and they made their way over a sharp coral reef for 100 yards, but their Excellencies' boat was hauled over a wide reef by 30 natives, singing ancient songs.

Surgeon-Lieutenant Hunter is having a busy time attending to his cases. A Rakahanga native was taken aboard with a gangrened finger, which was amputated during the voyage to Manihiki. This prevented certain death.