CANTON ISLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1938, Page 8

CANTON ISLAND.

WELLINGTON'S CALL.

LANDED STORES AND RELIEF.

SOUTHERN CRUISE IN MARCH.

After being diverted from her scheduled cruise of Southern ports to carry out a mission for the Higrh Commissioner of the Western Pacific, Sir Arthur Richards, the Imperial escort vessel Wellington, under Commander G. X. Loriaton-Clarke, returned to the Devonport naval base this morning. The primary reason for the Wellington's Pacific crufee was to take stores, water and a radio replacement to Canton and Hull Islands. Leaving Auckland on January 4, the Wellington steamed direct for Suva where she arrived on January 9. Pour days were spent in port taking in supplies and the anchorage at Canton was made on the morning of January 17. The vessel put to sea. again in the evening to make a tall of a few hours at Hull Island, before returning to Suva. The Wellington stayed at the Fijian port from January 24 to 26 when ehe set out for Auckland.

All was well 011 Canton island, where the officials in residence have made themselves quite comfortable. The habitation is comprised of three email huts, one for the officials, the second for the natives and the remaining one for stores. Near them are the two masts of the radio station and on a third mast flies the emblem of British sovereignty, the Union Jack. Although a certain amount of water can be found on an impervious coral rock ledge by digging three or four feet, it is inclined to be brackish and the supply of drinking water is at present dependent on ships. Sufficient supplies of food and water were left there for a seven months' period, and in addition the Wellington left there a supply of coconut seed which it is hoped will make the barren island fastness more habitable. Administrator to Stay. Mr. F. H. Rostier, radio operator, was relieved by Mr. T. H. Manning, but Mr. G. V. Langdale, formerly of H.M.C.S. Pioneer, who is the Acting-Administra-tive Officer, volunteered to stay there for a further period. Aboard the Wellington for the round voyage from Suva were Mr. R. H. Garvey, assistant secretary to the Western Pacific High Commnssioner, and Mr. R. C. Farquhar, senior wireless officer at Fiji, who inspected the radio equipment on the two islands visited. No plaques were erected. Throughout the voyage excellent weather prevailed except for a nor'-west gale between Canton Island and Suva, which lasted for 48 hours. The Wellington took the gale on her beam, but its severity was not sufficient for the vessel to slow down. At Suva members of the crew took part in two Soccer matches and one Rugby match. The previous itinerary has been altered providing for the Wellington's undergoing annual refit. She will enter the Calliope dock in the middle of next month, remaining there some 10 days, then again going alongside for the completion of the overhaul. The intended calls at Gisborne and Napier have been cancelled tentatively, and the ship will leave direct for Wellington, where she is now due on March 9. In the Southern port the ship's com-1 plement will take part in the annual musketry course at Trentham before joining the escort vessel Leith at Akama | to carry out minesweeping practice for the South Island divisions of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. The minesweeper Wakakura is expected to be in attendance. After the Wellington returns to Wellington in March her movements are at .present indefinite.