THE WAKAKURA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19958, 27 November 1926, Page 13

THE WAKAKURA

TOWED INTO HONOLULU. '

(Pr.'f» Association— By Telegraph—Copyrlgot.)

HONOLULU, November 25. (Received Nov. 26, at 5.5 p.m.) The United States cruiser Pittsburg arrived to-day towing the New Zealand mine-sweeper Wakakura, which was found on November 20 crippled in midocean. The Wakaknra’s disabled engines will be repaired here. —A. and N.Z. Cable.

The Wakakura is a Canadian-built trawler, which was constructed during the war for mine-sweeping and other purposes. After having Icn fitted out at Inverness under Admiralty supervision she was commissioned at Sheerness, and then despatched from Portland Harbour for Auckland on June 15. Lieutenant R. A. Macdonald is in command, and no has under him another officer, a warrant officer, and a crew of 20 men. Every available space onboard was stocked wuh coal in order that she would have to call at as few ports as possible for fuel. Her first destination was Cape Verde, on the west coast of Africa. Afterwards she was to call at Trinidad, Colon, Salma Crux, up the American coast as far north as San Diego, thence to Honolulu, Pa B o Pago Fiji, and Auckland. It was thought at first that the Wakakura would arrive at Auckland about the end of Octo ber but she was delayed for a month at Trinidad, and later advice was received giving her expected arrival date at about Christmas Day. She is the latest adc ition to the New Zealand Navy, and will be stationed at Auckland, where she wi 1 be used as a mine-sweeper and as a traui-ing-ship for naval reserve seamen.