SUNDAY ISLAND PARTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23702, 9 January 1939, Page 2

SUNDAY ISLAND PARTY

STORES LANDED BY KETCH VALUABLE ADDITION TO DIET (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Jan. 7. Six members of the Public Works Department, a party on Sunday Island in the Kermadecs, are now enjoying a much wider diet as the result of the delivery of greatlydesired stores by the auxiliary ketch Miena, which returned to Auckland to-day.

A supply of pi’ovisions from the outside world had been delayed by a series of unfavourable circumstances and the chartering of the Miena by the Government led to the belief that the party, which is engaged in survey and radio work, was greatly in need of food. The impression gained by the Miena’s crew, however, was that there is plenty of fruit, fish, water, and even wild goats to be obtained on the island itself. At the same time the ketch’s cargo of canned meat, greenstuffs. etc., was much desired by the party as a necessary varied addition to the island’s natural supplies. It was learned that the.fparty on the island comprises a surveyor, two radio experts, two bushmen, and a gardener. The best of fortune was experienced by the Miena when she reached the island on Monday morning, as between two spells of adverse winds favourable conditions lasted until all the stores had been landed. Some members of the crew went ashore at the island but saw little of it. The party’s dwellings are about a mile and a-half from the landing, and it will probably be three weeks before the inhabitants can carry all the stores to headquarters.