THE AMOKURA'S CRUISE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14867, 19 December 1911, Page 8

THE AMOKURA'S CRUISE.

NO CASTAWAYS SEEN.

The Government training ship Amokui

returned to Wellington last week from her periodical trip to the outlying Southern groups. The vessel sailed from Bluff on November 14. " During her absence she visited Stewart Island, Tho Snares, Enderby, and other Auckland islands, Adam:?, Disappointment, Campbell, and Antipodes . Islands, and the Bounty Group, in search of castaways, but did not find any. On account of rough . weather it was impossible to land at all the islands visited. On those on which a landing was effected the castaway depots were found to be intact. The party did not once come across anything in the shape of wreckage. In the case of the islands at which the steamer did not land a party, the depots were viewed from a distance, and appeared to be all right. Of the islands, the only ones which,, are inhabited are the Campbells. The community there consists of a party of Tory Channel whalers, all of whom were quite well when the Amokura called. They were busily engaged at the time in shearing the 7000 odd sheep that are despastured there. Throughout the cruise the community of about 60 boys on board the training ship the majority of whom had never been to sea in the true sense of the word beforeenjoyed good health in general, and soon gained their sea legs. Incidentally,"it is interesting" to note that since being employed as a training ship the Amokura has covered a distance - of over 37,000 miles, and that during that time she has never been steered by anybody other than the boys undergoing training.