CREW OF THE HWALEIN

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25030, 12 November 1946, Page 5

CREW OF THE HWALEIN

SECOND PARTY RETURNS

BY AIR

STEAMER AGROUND ON TRIP TO SHANGHAI

AUCKLAND, November 11. the flags of Australia, America, ana China emblazoned on its- nose, a Dakota aircraft of Cathay Pacific Airways arrived at Whenuapai late this afternoon from Hong Kong with 15 officers and men of the Hwalein, the former Union Steam Ship Company inter-island ferry Maori. The aircraft, one of four owned by the new Australian company, was chartered by the united Corporation of China, the Hwalein’s new owners, to fly the New Zealand crew which sailed the vessel to Shanghai back to the Dominion. Nineteen members of the crew were brought home by the same aircraft last month, and those who returned today are the last to come back. A particularly fast journey was made by the Dakota, which left Hong Kong only last Friday afternoon. The first hop was to Manila, and on Saturday the Dakota flew on to Morotai and Darwm. and continued all night, to reach Brisbane early on Sunday afternoon. Leaving Brisbane this morning th e aircraft flew via Norfolk Island &no landed at Whenuapai shortly after 4.30 p.m.

a?? 1 /? pilot was Caplin J. A. Wawn, A.F.C.. a former squadron leader in the Royal Australian Air Force who brought the same aircraft to New Zealand last month.

The six weeks’ delivery voyage of the Hwalein from Wellington to Shanghai, which was described by members of the crew, was not without the coast of Tarakan. in North Borneo, the vessel went aground °i n a .bank, which projected more than 20 miles from the coast. Fortunately the ship went aground at low tide, and after holding fast for 12 hours floated off the following morning with the rising tide. The hull was undamaged and the voyage to Shanghai was completed. Members of the crew said they were astounded at the high prices of commodities in Chinese shops. Shoes were selling at the New Zealand equivalent of £9 10s. and ties at ud to £4 10s each. A pound of a well-known brand of New Zealand cheese cost 12s. Butter was up to 16s per lb. and what was considered a cheap dinner was 14s.

Members of the crew who arrived to-day were the second mate. Mr K. S. Fraser, the radio officer. Mr C. R. Wyllie. the fourth engineer. Mr A. H. Horsfall., the chief steward. Mr G. Martini and Messrs J. Paget. R Hart. H. Roseman, T. Redmond. H. Smith. G. Racey. O. Ayling. G. R. King J Radford. L Tassel, and K. Nvstrom. Three of the crew, including the first officer. Mr R Bernhard, remained in China.