SHIP DIVERTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 71, 25 March 1940, Page 4

SHIP DIVERTED.

'FOR WOMAN FROM PITCAIRN. HELPED BY ADMIRAL BYRD. On the way to New Zealand from liuglaml a merchant ship, which arrived jiit Auckland ycriterduy, was diverted I from her route to pick up a woman rcsident of Pitcairn Island, who is to be sent to hospital in Wellington. The woman is Mrs. Beruice Lillian, a descendant of George Young, one of the Bounty mutineers and the diversion of the vessel to take her on board was the result of the joint interest of RearAdmiral R. E. Byrd, American Antarctic explorer, and of the New Zealand Navy Office. Mrs. Lillian was met on the wharf by her father, Mr. A. Young, a Pitcairn Inlander, who has lived in Wellington for some years. He had to return South again last night and. as the vessel was late in berthing, it was : only through the assistance of Customs I officers and stewards that he and his 'daughter were able to leave the wharf in time to catch a special express, which ' left at 7.35. Air. Young said that when RearI Admiral Byrd arrived at Wellington , last Dec-amber in his ship, the North j Star, he reported that his doctor had , examined Mrs. Lillian during their Pitcairn Island call and that, as a result, i the doctor had advised her to undergo an operation in not more than six months. I The matter was reported to the Navy, in control of merchant ships' courses, | and several efforts were made to divert a vessel to the island. At one stage it I was suggested that Mr. Young should ■he taken to Pitcairn and then sent on Jto Canada with his daughter, but finally lit was found possible to divert the 1 fihip which arrived last evening.