PEARL SHELL POACHER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21561, 4 August 1933, Page 9

PEARL SHELL POACHER

A JAPANESE SAMPAN NEW HEBRIDES INVASION SYDNEY. Aug. S An account of the operations of a pearl shell poaching Japanese sampan in the Banks group of islands in the north-western section of the New Hebrides in May was given to-day by Mr. D. Askew, a sulphur miner, who has arrived in Sydney. Mr. Askew says natives of the island of Uraparraparra complained that the crew of a Japanese vessel, numbering 45, raided their village and cleared all the gardens of vegetables, then left, taking with them not only all the shell collected on the beach, but also native boats. A few days later a sampan appeared off Vanua Lava and five canvas collapsible boats made for the shore. Mr. Askew and another white resident went out in a launch to intercept the boats, which mado off at great speed. The sampan put to sea at a rate of about 22 knots. Apparently the craft was fitted with a powerful Diesel engine. A cablegram from Suva on July 29 stated that a mysterious vessel, believed to bo Japanese, was seen off Funafuti. It left at full speed when a district officer attempted to board it. Fijians on Kia Island, 15 miles north of Vanua Levu, reported that a Japanese vessel appeared outside tho reef thero on July 10, and landed 40 men, who obtained water and departed. Tho New Hebrides group is about 500 miles west of Fiji.