TIME AND TIDE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 196, 16 May 1930, Page 8

TIME AND TIDE

HUSBANDS MAROONED INVOLUNTARY VOYAGERS STARTLING EXPERIENCE To find themselves well out to sea in a homeward-bound liner in the company of friends whom they had visited on board for the purpose of bidding them farewell, was the startling experience of two Wellington men, who now have been parted from their families for more than a month. Ou the night of April 9, the men, who are understood to have been employed on the' Tawa Flat railway deviation works, went on board the Corinthie at the Glasgow Wharf to say goodbye to friends, who were departing for England. The ship sailed at 8.15 p.m., and went straight to sea on the start of her 6500 mile run to Panama. How it happened that the two men dallied on board too long will not be known until they get back to New Zealand, but apparently they did not realise that the ship was under way until she had gone too far to put back. Anxious Wives. As they did not return home that night their wives became anxious and went to the ship’s a’gents next day to make inquiries. They received a great shock when they were told that a radio message had been received fromthe commander of the Corinthic stating that their husbands were on board and indicating that he would probably be landing them at Pitcairn Island. That was five weeks ago, and the missing husbands have not yet got back. The Corinthic, which would make Pitcairn Island on the tenth or eleventh day out from Wellington, passed through the Panama Canal at the beginning of this month and is due at Southampton to-day. Cancelled Welcome Home. It was at first thought that the men might be picked up at Pitcairn Island by the Mataroa, and it is said that their friends had arranged a welcome home reception, plans for which were cancelled when it was found that that ship, which arrived at Wellington, had not brought them. Hope next centred in the Rangitata, but when she arrived at Wellington on Wednesday it was reported that, although she had been advised by radio from the Corinthic of the position, she did not stop at Pitcairn Island owing to rough weather and darkness.

It is possible that the missing men have been picked up by the Mahana, which is due at Port Chalmers from London via the Panama Canal next Monday.