NEWS FROM CAP PILAR

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22308, 24 January 1938, Page 12

NEWS FROM CAP PILAR

NEW ZE A LANDERS ON A WORLD CRUISE VISIT TO MARQUESAS ISLANDS [THE PRESS Special Service] AUCKLAND. January 23. Further news of the 300-ton barquentine Cap Pilar, which left Auckland under Captain Adrian Seligman, owner and master, on September 17, 1937, with six New Zealanders among the crew, to continue her cruise round the world, has been received in two letters from members of the crew, one from Mr C. M. Maggs, photographer, the other from Mr Alexander McMaster, of Speight road, Kohimarama, Auckland. These letters, posted at Nukahiva Island, Marquesas group, in November, state that the Cap Pilar reached the Gambler Islands 25 days after leaving Auckland. She tied up at Rikatea, the chief village, and the crew spent two weeks making boating expeditions to various islands and collecting shells and botanical and biological specimens.

On leaving, they were towed out of the bay by the French schooner Mouette. "Eleven days' sailing northward," v/rites Mr Maggs, "for 1000 miles into the realm of the flying fish brought us to the Marquesas, with their fantastic mountain scenery and wonderfully luxuriant tropical vegetation. While here we have had plenty of experience of horse riding along the terribly stiff trails which traverse the mountain ranges linking the various inhabited valleys." Fertile Islands During the three weeks at Nukahiva Island the ship was anchored in the lovely Taiohae Bay. ]>/' McMaster says that the time was mainly occupied in making a series of three-day camping trips. He writes: "The Marquesas Islands are very fertile and well watered by streams cascading often 1000 ft down the steep valleys. Coconuts, oranges, bananas, paw-paws, mangoes, breadfruit, eggfruit, pineapples, and limes grow in abundance, and brilliant red and yellow hibiscus, wattles, giant convolvulus, ferns, bamboos, and creepers cover the hillsides. The prisoners sent to this island from Tahiti just work round the village and enjoy themselves like other natives."

From Nukahiva. the Cap Pilar sailed to Hiva-Oa, another island in the group On the journey the crew celebrated the birthday of Captain Seligman. each member being given a bottle of wine to honour the occasion Mr McMaster says that after leaving Hiva-Oa they will set a course for Easter Island, whence they will journey to Lima. Peru, the Galapagos Islands, Panama, the West Indies, and New York.