THE ISLAND DEPOTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 121, 22 May 1908, Page 3

THE ISLAND DEPOTS.

ARE THE SUPPLIES TAMPERED WITH? [BT TELBGBAPH. — PEBBB ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, 21st May. Captain Noel, of the wrecked barque President' Felix Faure, is very reticent U) regard to the condition of the depot placed on the Antipodes for the use of shipwrecked mariners. He was asked by a reporter, on the day of his arrival in Christchurch, how the provisions in the depot had helped the needs of his men, but he declined to say anything on that point. The position he takes up is that he and the members of his 'ship's company have accepted the hospitality of the New Zealand Government, and he 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 several persons who have conversed with them, however, it seems that the provisions were not altogether in a good conditions, and several articles which would have been a great help to the men were conspicuous by their aosence. Captain Bollons, of the Hinemoa, who visited the 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 were no fishing lines or hooks, no tea, sugar, coffee, or even salt. It is stated that the blankets were old ones, and that some of the clothing had evidently belonged to men who had discarded it. In view of the definite statements made by the French sailors, and by Captain Bollons, there is a suspicion that the depot had been entered between the time when it was last inspected by Captain Bollons and the arrival of the castaways. Captain Noel, it is understood, has written a confidential report to 'Captain Bollons, describing the depot as he found it, and making some suggestions.

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