EXIT "TAKAPUNA."

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 215, 11 September 1931, Page 5

EXIT "TAKAPUNA."

SWALLOWED A FISH-HOOK.

LABURNUM LOSES HEB MASCOT

T.'SKEE MONTHS , PACIFIC CRUISE.

With the stigina of a naval courtmartial still upon him, "Takapuna," the self-appointed mascot of His Majesty's sloop Laburnum, lost all his nine lives during the "warship's recent three months Island cruise. Remarkable cat though he was, "Takapuna" was unable to digest a large fish hook, and he died, after making a brave fight for life, while the sloop was anchored, at Rotumah, towards the end of last month. News of the cat's untimely end was brought to Auckland with the return of the Laburnum late yesterday afternoon. It is only a few months ago that "Takapuna" got into newspaper print as the central figure in a court-martial held in the ward room of the Laburnum while the sloop was berthed at Devonport. Wilful desertion was the charge preferred against him, and the evidence showed that he had carried out a flirtation with a young tabby near the big fuel tanks at the naval base while hie ship was (jailing for Wellington. "Takapuna" was sentenced to seven days' solitary confinement. Whether or not the sentence was carried out is not known, but the court-martial had a most sobering effect on the cat, for he never again missed his ship. If the officers of the Laburnum are to be believed, "Takapuna" became so shrewd that a single blast of the warship's .siren would bring him scampering across the dockyard and up the gangway. "Takapuna's" Blunder. When the Laburnum sailed from Auckland on June 7 "Takapuna" was on board with time to spare, and for two months he enjoyed the warm sunshine that favoured the sloop during her roamings in the Western Pacific. it was while the warship was anchored in the Tarawa Lagoon that "Takapuna" made the biggest blunder of his young life. About midnight a member of the ship's company heard an unusual noisa on the fo'c'sle, and on going forward found the cat writhing in agony. No careful diagnosis by the ship's surgeon was necessary, for from the cat's mouth hung a length of fishing line. A baited hook had been left on top of the hawser reel, and "Takapuna's" keen ecent had led him to it. Apparently the cat's appetite was particularly keen on that night, for he swallowed bait, hook, trace and all. As much of the trace as protruded from 'Takapuna's" mouth was cut off and the cat was handed over to the care • of the ship's surgeon. An operation not being deemed advisable, little could be done for the patient;, and the news went round that ''Takapuna" was dying. So sure was the ship's carpenter that, even with "nine lives," "Takapuna" could not survive that he made a neat coffin, and it was decided among the officers that the cat should be buried ashore. But, to the amazement of everyone, "Takapuna" on the following day showed a marked improvement, and oy the time the sloop sailed from Tarawa he appeared almost himself again. But complications set in, and three weeks later, when the Laburnum was anchored at Rotumah, he breathed his last. He was placed in his coffin, and, without rolling of drums, he was dropped over the eide! Although he refused to make many friends, 'Takapuna" was very popular on the Laburnum, and his death was regarded as the one sad incident in an enjoyable trip. He had been the ship's ; mascot for over two years.

Administrator's Tour. The Laburnum's three months' cruise was not greatly eventful. Fine weather \vas experienced for the greater part of the time and while people in Auckland were keeping warm with heavy overcoats and roaring fires the officers and men of the <=!oop were broiling under a tropical nun. During the greater part of her absence from port, the Laburnum was engaged in taking the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, Sir Murchison Fletcher, on a tour of inspection round his widely distributed territory. Visits were paid to the Solomon Islands, the Xew Hebrides, the Gilbert and Ellice Groups and Rotumah, upwards of 5000 miies being steamed. Numerous official calk were paid by Sir Murchison, who is also Governor of Fiji, and the Laburnum's company received the benefit of the native dances and displays which were arranged in the Administrator's honour. Football, cricket, tennis and golf were played at various: places touched at by the "warship, while at Malaita a team from the sloop won a rifle shooting match against the natives. A searchlight display given by the Laburnum at Malaita apparently delighted the natives. In the Solomon Hebrides Islands malaria was found to be fairly prevalent. "The cruise Avas of particular importance and was successful in every way," said Commander C. E. Hotham this morning. "An excellent opportunity was afforded Sir Murchison of observing the conditions in the Western Pacific, and the tour was probably the most extensive of its kind ever "made in the groups we visited."