SHIPS TO RESCUE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 123, 18 February 1935, Page 8

SHIPS TO RESCUE

Hurricane in Cook Islands EXTRA MEDICAL AID Appeal Received From Rarotonga With a view to investigating the nature and extent of the damage caused by the recent hurricane in the Uook Islands, arrangements have been made by the Department of External Affairs for the American ship Golden Bear to call at Palmerston Island, about which particular anxiety is felt. The Golden Bear, which is bound from United States ports to New Zealand, is expected to be off Palmerston Island on Wednesday. Her captain will report by wireless on the state of affairs at the Island, and should this indicate' that assistance is necessary it is probable that the lighthouse steamer Matai will leave for the group late this week. A doctor will leave Wellington by the Makura for Rarotonga to-morrow to assist Dr. E. P. Ellison, the resident medical officer. These steps arc being taken on precautionary grounds, particularly in view of the Isolation of many of the islands in the Cook group and Die impossibility in the absence of hidio communication of obtaining news of the situation. Action has been taken by the Government in response to a cablegram from Rarotonga, the principal is land in ahe group. A public meeting on Friday decided to ask that a doctor be sent from New Zealand to assist Dr. Ellison, who, in addition to his ordinary, duties, is acting as resident commissioner in the absence on leave in New Zealand of Mr. H. F. Ayson. A doctor, probably an officer of the Health Department, will leave by the Makura, on which Mr. Ayson, who has curtailed his furlough, will also return to Rarotonga. If the Matai goes to the group it is probable Dr, Ellison will join the vessel and visit the outlying islands, both in the lower and the northern groups, while the second doctor will be locum tenens at Rarotonga. Path of Hurricane. The Dominion meterologist, Dr. E. Kldson, thinks the hurricane would at least have passed very close to Palmerston and Manuae Islands in the lower group, which suffered severely in the disastrous hurricane of 1914. It is thought there are about 100 inhabitants at Palmerston Island and about 30 at .Manuae Island, but the precise numbers, and whether any Europeans are included, are not known in Wellington. Neither island had radio equipment. The Golden Bear will not be passing near Manuae Island,, but the agents, Burns, Philp and Co. have readily , agreed to the vessel calling at Palmerston Island, about 60 miles from Manuae, to investigate the situation, and to report by wireless. No doubt in an emergency the Golden Bear will be able to furnish limited assistance, such as the provision of food. The hurricane did not affect Niue or the Samoa Islands, and Dr. Kidson is inclined to think it would not be experienced ip the northern Cook group, but the feeling is that an investigation should be made, as these islands, too, are without wireless. The principal islands in that group are Penrhyn, Maniliiki, Pukapuka, Rakalianga, Nassau and Suwarrow. There is believed to be a schooner in the group, but it will not be due at Tahiti for about three weeks. The population on the islands in the northern group at the 1926 census totalled 1761. and in the lower group 8321. Makogai Leper Station. A further reason making it desirable for the Matai to visit the group is that there are 17 lepers on various islands to be removed to the, Makogai leper station. That has not hitherto been possible owing to the lack of suitable transport, and it is felt the sending of the Matai would serve a double mission. A suggestion that H.M.S. Leith should. leave on Sunday for Cook Islands was not adopted, primarily because the warship could not be conveniently utilised for transporting the lepers. It is almost certain the .Matai will leave late this week to make a round of the islands. She will be provisioned with food, and will'take ample medical supplies. She will probably be hired from the Marine Department for the purpose. Consideration was given to diverting the Maui Pomare, but that was not. practicable as that vessel is bound for New Zealand with a banana cargo, which would probably have had to be jettisoned if she were subjected to much delay. Advice has been received that Mr. Boucher, Director of Agriculture at Rarotonga, had a leg broken when the hurricane si ruck his office. The leg has since been amputated.