SICK JAPANESE SEAMAN LANDED

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29260, 19 July 1960, Page 8

SICK JAPANESE SEAMAN LANDED

Appendicitis Case At Gisborne

(New Zealand Preu Association) GISBORNE, July 18.

After an operation for appendicitis last night at the Cook Hospital, a Japanese seaman, Hiromiti Hoshina. aged 26, was reported to be comfortable this morning. Hoshina was a member of the crew of the Japanese tuna fishing boat. Showa Maru No. 2. which came into the port last night to land the sick man. It is expected that Hoshina will spend from eight to 10 days in hospital. The Showa Maru No. 2 was noticed by a fisherman. Mr R. Highan, to be signalling. He drew his trawler alongside and was told by signs that one of the crew was ill. Mr Highan returned to port and arrangements were made to land the sick man. The Showa Maru is commanded by Captain Tsutomu Iwatani. He indicated that his 324ton vessel had left her home port, Shimizu, on June 10 and had been at sea for 40 days’ fishing for tuna, of which he had 100 tons in her iced holds. She carries a crew of 29.

Captain Iwatani indicated the vessel had not visited any port since she left Japan, but the Gisborne party could not get answers to questions on how long she could stay at sea. The vessel is owned by the Showa Maru Fisheries Company, Ltd., of Yaisu. * This is the second time within 18 months that a Japanese tuna vessel has put into Gisborne with a sick man aboard.