RELIEF OF CASTAWAYS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 204, 22 May 1908, Page 5

RELIEF OF CASTAWAYS.

A SERIOUS QUESTION. WAS THE ANTIPODES DEPOT TAMPERED WITH ? (Hl* TEr.EGRAni. —PRESS association.) Ciirlstchurch, May 21. Captain Noel, of the wrecked barquo Presidftnt Felix Faurc, is very rcticcnt in regard to the condition of the depot placcd on the Antipodes for the use of shipwrecked mariners. lie was asked by a reporter, on the day of his arrival in Christchurch, how the provisions in the depot had helped tho needs of his men, but he declined to say anything on that point. The position lie takes up is that ho and tho members of his ship's company have accepted the hospitality of tho Now Zealand Government, and ho does not feel that it would be becoming in him to criticise anything the Government has tried to do in the interests of unfortunate sailors. From what the sailors have said to soveral porsons who,have conversed with them, howover, it seems that the provisions were not altogether in a good condition, and several articles which would have been a great help to the men were conspicuous by their absence. Captain Bollons, of tho Hinemoa, who visited tho depot some months ago, states that there were plentiful supplies, but several articles mentioned by him were missing when the French sailors found the depot. There ■ wore no fishing lines or hooks, no tea, sugar, coffee, or even salt. It is stated that the blankets wore old ones, and that some of the clothing had ovidently belonged to men who had discarded it. r In view of the definite statements madp by tho French sailors, and by Captain Billions, there is a suspicion that tho depot had been entered between tho time when it was - last inspected by Captain Bollons and the arrival ot tho castaways. Captain Noel, it is understood, hss written a confidential report to Captain Bollons, describing the depot as ho found it, and making some suggestions.