DEATH AT SEA

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24748, 13 December 1945, Page 4

DEATH AT SEA

PITCAIRN ISLANDER ON WAY HOME

KETCH GOLDEN HIND RETURNS

(P.A.) AUCKLAND,' December 12. After waiting since early in the war to return to his home at Pitcairn Island, a passenger on the Public Works Department's 100-ton ketch Golden Hind, which returned to Auckland' today, died on board three days before the vessel reached the island. He was Sydney "Christian, aged 65. who was returning with his wife and two other Pitcairn Islanders after being stranded in New Zealand through shipping difficulties. ' Mr Christian had been •in ill-health for some time, and had obtained a passage on an American Liberty ship which was to have called at Pitcairn Island in 1943. The vessel lost her propeller on the trip, however, and had to return to New Zealand. Mr and Mrs Christian were, finally able to leave New Zealand on the Golden Hind on October 30 last, but Mr Christian died before he could see his home. He was buried on the island. J The master of the Golden Hind, Captain Cole, said the ketch had had an exceptionally good trip, having sailed the round trip of 6200 miles in a day over six weeks, thus easily fulfilling the wish he had expressed on his departure that he would be back in Auckland within seven weeks. Pitcairn Islanders were faring fairly well, said Caotain Cole. He understood that three ships called at the island en route to New Zealand while the ketch was on her outward trip. The Golden Hind called at Rarotonga on her return voyage, .taking there a Seventh Day Adventist minister from Pitcairn Island, who had finished his period of duty on the island. >