WRECK OF WATERLILY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21520, 17 June 1933, Page 12

WRECK OF WATERLILY

MEMBER OF THE CREW RETURNING TO NEW ZEALAND [from ouk own" correspondent! SUVA. June 13 The last remaining member of the crew of the New Zealand ketch Waterlily, which arrived in Suva from Auckland last year on a cruise of tho Islands and which was subsequently wrecked in the Gilbert and Ellico Group, arrived from the Gilbert Islands in the missionary steamer John Williams on Sunday last. He is Mr. Stephen Gerard, of Christchurch. When the vessel went on a reef and became a total loss, the other members of the party returned to New Zealand hv a phosphate steamer, but Mr. Gerard elected to remain in tho Gilberts, which are situated north of Suva and near the Equator. It was stated on tho arrival of the John Williams that Mr. Gerard, acting in conjunction with the natives of one of the islands, was desirous of opening up a trading store on a co-operative basis, through the medium, of which tho natives would trade their copra for goods. It was in this connection that *Mr. Gerard came to Suva to interview tho High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, whose permission for any such undertaking would first'have to be obtained. On application being made to tlio Western High Commissioner this morning, it was officially stated that Mr. Gerard would not bo returning to tlio Gilbert Islands, but that facilities would bo provided for him to return to New Zealand. It is expected that ho will return to Auckland by the Karotu this week.