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Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 247, 18 October 1926, Page 9

A double tragedy—the death of two cats—was the only incident to mar the five months' Island cruise of the sloop Veronica, which returned to Auckland, yesterday morning. When the warship was about to carry out gunnery exercises off Lautoka, Fiji, the mascots were taken to the recording station, it being thought that the noise of the firing might upset them if allowed to remain ou board. At the station both cats showed signs of restlessness, and when returning to the ship one of the pair jumped overboard and swam to the shore. Next morning, however, search by a party of sailors proved successful. and the cat was returned to his old home. But at Suva the wanderer again took French leave, and this tune he did not come back. The shock proved too much for his companion, who died in grief a few days later. «