SUNDAY ISLAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 198, 22 July 1937, Page 14

SUNDAY ISLAND.

SURVEY PARTY LANDS. DIFFICULTY OF THE SURF. ■ Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 20. Tho precautions taken by the Raoul Island (Sunday. Island) survey party to overcome landing difficulties during the transhipment operations from tho Maui Pomare last week rvere referred by tho the Postmaster-General (Hon. F. Jones) in an interview tonight! Because of the change in tho weather it was impossible to unload all tho stores or embark the four dissatisfied settlers wishing to leave the island. If weather and other renditions permit it is hoped to make arrangements for tho embarkation on the Maui Pomare on-the return trip to New Zealand from the South Pacific islands. Radio communication has now been established with the Raoul Island survey party. The necessity for the elaborate precautions taken in equipping the party lias been amply demonstrated by advice received from Mr J. E. Anderson, engineer in charge of the party, said Mr Jones. When the question of establishing a meteorological reporting station at Raoul Island was considered it was realised that this would be impossible without a solution of the problem of landing equipment and materials on tho island first being found. The present survey party was dispatched by the Maui Pomare for this purpose. To land tho survey gear in the only practicable method it was necessary to pack everything in water-tight casks and land it through the surf. All the essential vital equipment and stores had to he packed in duplicate in separate casks so that there would be a reasonable chance of sufficient boing got nshore to enable tho party to function. Tho necessity for the elahorato precautions taken is evidenced by various radio messages now to hand which give a very clear indication of the irresponsible optimism of those seeking to establish a settlement on the island prior to the problem of satisfactory ship’s mooring and cargo handling facilities being solved; in fact a satisfactory solution really exists, said Mr Jones. The master and leader of the survey party were successful in landing last Friday and were mot by four dissatisfied settlers who demanded to bo taken off. In conversation with the remaining three settlers, who are satisfied to remain, it was learned that the dissatisfied portion had practically exhausted their meagre stores of supplies and that tho previous Friday serious differences had taken place between tho two factions. Theie was no option but to make an attempt to remove tho disgruntled four men concerned. Because the weather was getting worse, on Saturday it was impossible to embark the disgruntled settlers, who still remain on the island. It appears that the initial landing of the survey party lias been successful and the party reports all well and that the erection of the camp is proceeding.