SPECIAL CALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 140, 15 June 1936, Page 9

SPECIAL CALL.

SUNDAY ISLAND MAIL. WAVY EXTENDS COURTESY. H.M.S. DUNEDIN TO DETOUR. The two inhabitants of Sunday Island, Messrs. A. Bacon and Bruce Robertson, will be able to receive and send mail this week owing to the courtesy of Commodore the Hon. E. R. Drunimond, R.N., who has agreed to stop at the island ou H.M.S. Dunedin's outward voyage. The flagship, which left the Devonport base at 2.30 p.m. to-day on her annual Pacific cruise, will arrive at Sunday Island on Wednesday and will stop the night there. The call was agreed to at the request of Mr. Bacon's mother, a resident of Devonport, who interviewed the Commodore. A number of .letters for the two New Xealanders who are the sole inhabitants of the island have been waiting for delivery and these will be carried by the cruiser. The French sloop called recently, but no sign of the inhabitants was seen. The reason for this, Mrs. Bacon pointed out, was that the sloop had called at. a part of tlio island some distance from where the settlers have their habitation. Mrs. Bacon was able to assist the Commodore in pointing out the handiest position from which to signal the islanders by gunfire. Occasionally the seas about the island are too rough to permit landing, but if conditions are favourable the Duncdin will land a party with the mail. Mail will also be picked up and posted at the first port of call. Apart from the usual formalities of saluting from the ships left behind there was little in the nature of leave taking at the dock as the flagship began her cruise this afternoon. The vessel, attended by a Harbour Board tug, cleared smartly and made a. line picture as she sailed down the harbour. H.M.S. Wellington came out of dock this morning after overhaul and tied up alongside her sister ship. 11.M.5. Lcitli. The two sloops will leave on their extended island cruises on Wednesday next.