"Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted"

Northern Advocate, 2 October 1936, Page 6

"Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted"

Signs in South Seas

British Sovreignty Notices [Special to “Northern Advocate ”1 AUCKLAND, This Day. “ ir FHIS Island Belongs To King Edward Eighth." Those who go cruising in the more remote Pacific Islands this season will encounter a number of notice boards bearing the above transcription, and signed by the Commander of H.M.S. Leith. Captain Oliver Bevir, nailed on palm trees in certain islands in the Phoenix Group, east of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. The “trespassers will be prosecutted" signs were hoisted during the annual winter cruise of the Leith, which concluded with her return to Auckland yesterday after an absence of three and a-half months. The islands concerned were originally annexed in 1889-1892, and the renewal (of Britain’s claim to sovereignty to (them has been made following recent j American and Japanese activities in jthe South Pacific. I This is the first time the name of the new Monarch has been used in connection with the acquisition of territory for the Empire. Adventure With Cannibals. The Leith also left at the Phoenix Group two water tanks for the use next year of the New Zealand Solar Expedition, which will be led by Mr C. B. Michie (Kaitaia). Many aspects of her cruise recall the wild South Seas, as portrayed by Beatrice Grimshaw. The officers and men, who spent New Year, in Whangarei, made their first acquaintance with cannibals at Hog Harbour, a port on the island of Epiratu Santa, New Hebrides. Clad in abbreviated loin cloths, but cax-rying ancient carbines at full cock, the savages were anything but amiable. On a trip to the interior, a party from the sloop had an adventure in a village, which was completely deserted except for an old guard who had his rifle across his knee. Within a few minutes a large party of fully armed natives appeared from the trees surrounding the huts. They were extremely surly, but made no attempts to molest the naval men. At Suva, on the outward run, the Leith’s crew captured all trophies for pulling and sailing races with boats from the Dunedin and the Wellington. The Wellington held bombardment practice off Lautoka, Fiji, and made calls at the Samoan, Cook and Society groups, as well as a number of out- < lying islands. For two months she carried Bishop Kempthorne on a tour of his extensive Polynesian diocese. The complement of the Leith will be paid off in December, in order that they might return to England before the steamship lines have to cope with the rush of visitors to England for the Coronation.