LIFEBOAT WORLD TOUR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 October 1925, Page 9

LIFEBOAT WORLD TOUR.

TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND

TEST OF TINNED FOOD

A former Penzance lifeboat, the Elizabeth and Blanche, is to set out on a world tour some time in October, ft is understood that, one of the primary objects of the cruise is to test the most suitab’e foods in tinned form for distressed mariners and castaways. Another feature will he the testing or wireless lifeboats, and to this in cutlet the Marconi Company have devoted the utmost care. A remarkable transfoimation has taken place in the old lifeboat, It has been elaborately fitted with show cases, and goods produced by leading British manufacturing firms will be represented. At present the boat is at Southampton, where she is being fitted with wireless. It is then intended to exhibit her on, London Bridge before she is returned to Penzance, from which port she will set out on her voyage. The first port of call will be Madeira, and then in turn she will visit Capetown, Australia, Tasmania, . New Zealand, South America, the United States, and Canada, before crossing the Atlantic for home. 'The whole trip covers 38,000 miles, and the time al'owed is 2$ to 3 years. The boat has been wonderfully adapted for the trip, and there have been hundreds of offers to take a job m her. She has been heightened 18 inches and decked in fore and aft. There is a capacity for 50 days’ fresh water supplv .and six months’ supply of preserved* foods. Her selected crew arc: Captain George Hitchens, of Newlyn, in command; Mr Philip. Niehods, jun., Penzance, son of the coxswain when the boat was in use as a lifeboat, mate ; Mr Leonard Stewart, Penzance, engineer; Mr Gilbert Moss, Birmingham, wireless operator. The boat is fitted with a motor.