ASSISTANCE GIVEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 225, 22 September 1932, Page 21

ASSISTANCE GIVEN.

ISLAND CUTTER'S PLIGHT. CAPTAIN DOWN WITH FEVER. FIREWOOD AND MEDICINE SUPPLIED. Assistance in the way of fuel and medicine was supplied to a native cutter by the Union Company's fruit steamer Waipahi, which has returned to Auckland from the Western Pacific. The captain of the cutter, had been stricken with fever, and there was no one else on board to navigate the vessel. Soon after leaving Apia for Nukualofa on September 12 the master of the Wai2)ahi was advised by wireless that anxiety was being felt for the safety of the 25-tou cutter Tui Tabou, which, had left Keppel Island eight days previously for Niuafou Island, a trip which jn ordinary circumstances would be made in two days. The Waipahi was asked to keep a sharp look out for tiro overdue cutter. „ On the morning after the radio had been received the cutter was sighted. The weather was then fine and the small craft was sailing with a fair wind, nothing appearing amiss. The steamer stopped abreast of the cutter, which was manned by a native crew and was carrying native men and women passengers. As soon ae«the Waipahi had stopped a boat, in charge of the mate of the cutter, came alongside. It was then learned that the master of the cutter had been suffering from a severe attack of fever for 'some days, and that there was no one else on board who was able to navigate the vesssl. Although he was then recovering the master was unable to pick up his position, as during his illness the steering of the cutter had been erratic. Prior to being met by the Waipahi the schooner had been zig-zagging in the hope that the master would sight some land that he was able to recognise. The mate of the cutter informed 1 the officers of the Waipahi that neither food nor water was required, but that the supply of firewood for the galley fire was exhausted. The mate also said that he required some medicine for his captain. Firewood was lowered into the cutter's boat and the mate was- given a bottle of quinine. When the natives had been informed as to their exact position they returned to the cutter and the Waipahi resumed her course. At the time the cutter was sighted she was 50 miles north of Vavau and 109 miles away from the island she had sailed from. No land was in sight and the crew had no idea of their position. On the day following the Waipahi's arrival at Nukualofa, advice was received that the cutter had reached her destination a day and a half after assistance had been received from the steamer.