THE KERMADEC GR OUP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18875, 30 May 1923, Page 9

THE KERMADEC GR OUP.

VISIT BY THE TUTAKEKAI. " '\ STORMY WEATHER ENCOUNTEREJX - I NO SIGNS OF CASTAWAYS. .. °' (Feok Oub Own Cobbespokdemt.) ' ? . AUCKLAND, May 59. The Government steamer Tutanekat h'«S returned to Auckland from the Kerroadeo group. Stormy weather prevented the erection of the intended depot at Sunday Island as no landing could'be made. # JT; » On Curtis Island, -which is an active yjijleario, and covers about 70 acres, the ppa% vision depot was found to ■be intact. "4# there is no fresh "water on the'island "lar* of water are left at the depot for shipv . wrecked mariners, and the -water there wai renewed. The island is covered -with ice ,-j plants and cuttygrass. _ *, \ j » Heavy sea prevented the Tutanekai's cretr landing-' on Macaiiley Island, but the vessel stood close enough in to see that the depot j had not been interfered with. This island ! : contains about 700 acres, and is covered wi.tb. grass, which sustains thousands '.of goats.The Tutanekai made a thorough search tor" ",\ castaways, but no sign of any -was seen.Y : | The provision depots on the islands of "the i group have been broached on at least three* -' occasions'I—twice 1 —twice by crews of sailing vessels which had run short of provisions and wera. in distress. The last occasion _■»« which, depots -were interfered with was in Decern- r fcer, 1917, when Couni, von fuekner escaped i from Motuihi. He was captured at Kermadecs after he -had taken all the stores from the Drov-irian dspot on Curtis-Island. . and transhipped thorn to the 'Moa, which; ! he liad seized off Mercury Bay. '..' Captain Bollons report's that heavy' J must have been experienced "at Sunday* J Island, as the -wreck of the Columbia RiveV 1 . schooner, which was lost there in Septem-*. ■ ber. 1921, has been battered to pieces. Most M of the timber from Use hull is strewn along m the east side of the ieland, but a has been washed by high sea s well inland.