RADIO CALLS FOR FOOD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19826, 31 December 1938, Page 14

RADIO CALLS FOR FOOD

PARTY ON KERMADECS 1 KETCH'S HURRIED TRIP G OVERNMENT. CHA RTEIi i . (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Quietly leaving port on Wednesday afteiu.oon, the auxiliary ketch Miena, : with a crew of eight, which had been hurriedly signed on, sailed for the Kermadecs with provisions which are urgently needed by a survey party which has been working on the island for some time. The Miena, owned toy G. H. George and Company, shipowners of Auckland, was chartered by the Government specially to make the voyage as the plight of the party at the Kermadecs was becoming desperate. No provisions have reached them for some time, although two attempts to send food and other urgent necessities by the cruisers H.M.S. Achilles and H.M.S. Leander failed because of the inability of the warships to get close enough to the island on account of rough weather. Weather Prevents Landing: | When H.M.S. Achilles left Auckland for England, via Suva, for refitting, she took on board a large quantity of stores for the Kermadecs. These could could not be landed on account of the weather and so they were taken on to Suva where H.M.S. Leander was waiting. The stores were transferred to that cruiser, but when she called at the Kermadecs on her way back to New Zealand, those on the island were once more disappointed. The weather was unfavourable and the survey party's feelings can be better imagined than described when they saw the cruiser weigh anchor and continue on .her run to Auckland.

In the meantime, radio messages from the party on the Kermadecs were received in New Zealand asking chat provisions should be dispatched urgently. Stores destined for the island were sent to Wellington, it being thought that the sloop Leith might deliver them. Suitable arrangements could not be made, however, and the already much-travelled provisions were railed back to Auckland. Livestock Wanted Early this week further radio messages arrived from the. Kermadecs, one of which asked that, in addition to provisions, a cow and three sheep should be sent to them. Arrangements were made to charter the auxiliary ketch Miena, which is regularly engaged to carry cement in the Wrangarei-Auckland trade. All that was needed was a crew. Here difficulty was experienced on account of the holidays. Two A.B.'s were signed on, but a couple of ordinary seamen were not available. The Marine Department and Seamen's Union facilitated in every way the prompt dispatch of the Miena which sailed witlt a fully experienced crew. The usual master of the Miena, I Captain V. J. Sayer, who has a Home trade ticket, went as first mate. Captain A. H. W. Burgess, who was for j some years master of the mission ' steamer Southern Cross is in command of the Miena for this voyage, i while Mr. H. J. C. George, a brother l of the owner, Captain Geoffrey George was signed on as "boy." Mr. George is a well-known solicitor and yachtsman who has frequently made long ocean cruises during his vacations. 20 Tons of Provisions The Miena carried eight of a crew and one passenger, and on the return voyage she will bring another passenger to Auckland. She took with her when she sailed nearly 20 tons of provisions and some timber. An effort was made to purchase a cow and three sheep for the hungry party marooned on the island, but the livestock could not be procured in time. Until this stock can be sent, the survey party will have to manage ori tinned meat. The Kermadecs are a'dou't 600 miles distant from Auckland and the Miena should reach there about midday on Sunday provided, of course, she is meeting the same weather at present being experienced in Auckland.

There is only one place where the cargo can be landed at the Kermadecs and that is at a fishing rock on the north-east corner of the island. Conditions have to be good with the wind blowing in the right direction before the cargo can be worked even at this spot. The great difficulty at the Kermadecs is big swells and dangerous surf.