IN SOUTHERN LATITUDES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20069, 8 April 1927, Page 5

IN SOUTHERN LATITUDES.

TUTANEKAI’S VOYAGE. MANY ISLANDS VISITED. NO EVIDENCE OF CASTAWAYS. Between rain and hail squalls the II passengers who made the recent trip by the Government steamer Tutanekai to southern latitudes, were rewarded with attractive scenery, the thrill of adventure on barren rocks and small islands, and glimpses of strange plant and bird life. Most of the passengers had never before been so far south and everything was new to them. In spite of the fact that the weather was far from favourable, the passengers felt no discomforts, and received every attention from Captain Bollons and his officers and crew. The Tutanckai’s/mission to southern latitudes was a unique and at the same time an important one. Many years ago a number of food depots were established by the Government on the Snares, Antipodes, and Bounty Islands for the use of castaways from sailing ships. The sailing ships having now passed from the even seas for all time, such depots are considered no longer necessary on the Antipodes and Bounty Islands. lt_ was the mission of the Tulanekai’s officers and crew to examine these food depots and note if the contents had been disturbed, and also look around the barren islands for any sign of human beings. The search was fruitless at every island, no sign of any human life being seen. The Tutanekai left Port Chalmers on the morning of March 22, and after a quantity of stores had been landed at the Moeraai lighthouse, the vessel steamed south the following morning. On the way to the Snares she ran into a strong southerly gale, and a course was steered for Port Pegasus, at the southern end of Stewart, Island, where the ship remained at anchor all that day. The following day she proceeded to the Snares, where a boat's crevy landed. The stores and depot were examined and found to bo intact. The ship then proceeded to the Auckland Islands, every atoll being visited and all the food depots, boats, boat-sheds, and stores being examined. Everything was found to be intact and in good order. Leaving the last landing at the Auckland Islands on March 31 the Tutanekai proceeded to the Campbell Islands, where she arrived on April 1. A mail for the men employed there was landed, and 34 bales of wool were shipped. A search was made for castaways, and when everything was found to be in order, the ship left on April 2 for the Antipodes, where she arrived on April 4. The food depot on this lonely island was examined and found to bo intact. It having been decided not to dismantle any of the depots, a notice was tacked to a wall stating that the Government steamer would not call there again. Should any unfortunate seafarer he cast on the Antipode.-, at any time, he will at least find a wellstocked larder. On the evening of April 4 the Tutanekai left the Antipodes for the Bounty Islands, arriving at an anchorage there on the morning of April 5. The boat's crew that went ashore searched the surrounding rocks, but saw no sign of human life, nor found any sign that there had boon any visitors to the islands sinco tho hist time tho Tutanekai called two years ago. Tho food stored in tho depot established some years ago was found to he in a decayed state ■mid tho depot blown to pieces as a result of tho stormy weather experienced at some time since the last visit of the dutanekai. The Tutanekai’a mission having been accomplished, tho ship left the Bounty Islands last Tuesday afternoon for Dunedin. Fresh south-west winds prevailed on the voyage back from tho southern I'atitiules.

While ashore at the Snares, the Auckland and some of tho other islands, a splendid collection of rare native plants, ferns, and roots of small, shrubs was gathered. Those wore stowed in boxes and were the envy of many eyes after tho Tutanekai berthed yesterday morning at tho Rattray street wharf. Tho southern outlying islands. are renowned for the beauty of their native plants and shrubs, and every care was taken to bring back tho numerous specimens with the roots attached. Sprigs of pink heather, with the roots attached, figured in tho collection. The heather was gathered on tho Auckland Islands.

Tho passengers went ashore at all the islands, and spent tho time at their disposal in exploring and sight-seeing. Tho weather throughout was not actually cold, the lowest temperature being 47 degrees. Before tho Tutanekai left tho Campbell Islands one man employed there stated that he wished to return to civilisation, and lie was granted a passage back to Dunedin. Tho four men remaining at the islands are well and contented with their lot. These men are engaged in mustering and shearing. A largo number of seals of various sizes wore soon on most of tho islands visited. A number of whales were also seen between the Auckland and Campbell Islands and again when tho Tutanekai was steaming to the Bounty Islands. These deep-sea, denizens had probably escaped tho deadly harpoon of the Norwegian whale chasers. r lhe passengers were afforded an unusual spectacle at the Antipodes. When the Tutanekai drew close inshore tho stately penguin was seen in occupation by countless 'thousands. The birds occupied practically every inch and foot of rock and earth. Captain Bollons said that the birds, and also inollyhawks, were as numerous us pebbles on a shingle beach. He estimated their numbers in tons of thousands. The penguins were so closely packed togethet that passengers and members of the ship’s crow had not an inch of ground on which to walk when they landed from the boats, Tho total distance steamed by the Tutanekai from the minute she left Port Chalmers to tier return to Dunedin was 1825 miles. Tho average speed was knots.