MATAI RETURNS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 24, 30 January 1939, Page 9

MATAI RETURNS.

VISIT TO LIGHTS.

HEAVY FOG TO AUCKLAND.

1 PASSENGERS ON ROUND TRIP. ]f lighthousekeejjerK develop a sudden an<l extraordinary appetite the joke is oil Mr. J. D. Murdoch, chief steward of the Government lighthouse tender Matai. In addition to attending' to the gastronomic needs of the crew and passengers of the vessel, he has to be sufficiently long-sighted to gauge what will be required by the guardians of the lights of the Xtw Zealand coasts. If they are short of food he has. to make up the deficiency . . . but he does it cheerfully. The Matai returned yesterday from a trip to the northern lighthouses at Flat Rock, off Hawaii, Cape Brett and Cape Maria van Diemen. A heavy swell on the sea* in the far north off Cape Maria delayed the vessel a day at Cape Maria and a calm sea on the trip south was offset by one of the heaviest fogs experienced in recent years that lasted until Auckland was reached yesterday afternoon. It w«« necessary for the master, Captain J. W. Burgess, to be on the bridge for practically every minute of the passage.

The Matai left Auckland on Wednesday, January 25, for the north. She carried several passengers who wanted to see something of the north in a quiet and peaceful way—ae distinct from the ordinary rush and buetle experienced on cruise boats. Though it is not generally known, the Matai caters for passengers and has taken many at various, times around some of the least-known parte of the coasts of the Dominion, from Cape Maria in the north to Pnysegur Point and the fiords in the south.

When the vessel left here laet week one of the passenger* was Maeter Budd, a son of the lighthousekeeper at Cape Maria. He vim on hie w-ay home for a holiday after attending the Flock House agricultural training centre for the last two years. Other ■passengers who made the roupd trip were Mr. W. Snell and Miss Lynch (Hamilton). Mieeee Kernin and Benjamin (Wellington) and Mr. Hay and Miss Drflton (Wellington).

At Cape Feinga the vetvsel picked np the assistant public works engineer for the Auckland district. Mr. T. C. V. Rabone. who had been conducting a survey and general investigation in connection with the establishment of the proposed new light home in that locality. Mr. Pabone Teturned to Auckland on the vessel. . From Cape Brett the Matai brought Mr. and Mn=. TCmmere and their three sons, who are being transferred from that lighthouse to Pouto Point, Kaipara. On Wednesday next the Matai will leave for the Hanraki Gulf to visit Cuvier and Moko Hinnn. when further arrfincpmciitfi will be made in connection with the new direction-findere.

Acting nt present a« assistant engineer on the veeeel is Mr. .T. A. Glasgow, a brother of Frank Glasgow, famous exAll Black, who played for Taranaki in ifMV) and Southland in lOOfl. representing Xew Zealand in both years.