SHIP’S PASSAGE CHECKED

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1934, Page 9

SHIP’S PASSAGE CHECKED

NATIVES OF RAPA ISLAND. INCIDENT TO PORT GISBORNE. The story of a rather amusing anticlimax to what promised to be an interesting interlude was told to a Daily News reporter yesterday by Captain W. G. Higgs, of the motor-vessel Port Gisborne, which arrived at New Plymouth yesterday mornihg. The incident occurred off the island of Rapa, about 2200 miles east-north-east from North Cape, New Zealand, on the vessel’s last voyage out to New Zealand. Some 2200 miles in an east-north-east direction from North Cape, New Zealand, lies the island of Rapa. Discovered by Vancouver in 1791, it is definitely volcanic in structure, and its aspect is remarkable. Steep and lofty peaks rise abruptly from the sea on all sides but one, where the lip of the ancient crater has sunk below the surface and afforded access to the harbour of Ahurei Bay. All the summits that are not actually inaccessible, and all the principal passes from one valley to another, are commanded by stout stone walls, each with its central watch tower. It is very evident that they are the work of men; but their age cannot be known, nor the purpose for which they were erected. The present inhabitants—a race closely akin to the Maori —tell a vague story of a large and intertribal wars far back in the past. This is hardly convincing, unless the island was once much larger than it is to-day —it is about ten miles in diameter and roughly circular. These forts can be clearly seen from a passing vessel. The island was formally taken under French protection in 1881, and for a few years afterwards was used as a coaling station by that short-lived service of steamers which ran for a while in the ’Bo’s between New Zealand and Panama. On the morning of August 11, said Captain Higgs, the Port Gisborne was passing the north side of Rapa at a distance of about a mile, when a boat was seen flying a white flag from a staff in the bows and being resolutely pulled by four natives in such a direction as to intercept the ship. A fifth man steered with an oar; and every now and then the rowers would cease pulling to wave their arms, resuming their work afterwards with redoubled energy. In these circumstances the master of the Port Gisborne stopped his ship and manoeuvred her near the boat. Conjecture was rife as to the reason for the boat’s putting off, and it was generally agreed that medical assistance was needed in a hurry. Dr. Maxwell, the surgeon of the motor-ship, began to get his instruments together, and excitement ran high. Anti-climax was to follow hard upon the thrill, for as the boat approached the ladder which had been thrown over the side, the grinning steersman held up a string of newly caught fish, shouting, “You want some feesh, capitaine?” The captain masked his displeasure with an obvious effort, and as the boat was now alongside, the steersman was allowed to bring his fish aboard. He was a cheery young man, closely resembling the Maori type, clad in well-worn European clothes, bare-footed, speaking very little English. To the question “Why did you stop me?” he returned a blank stare. “What for you stop me?” with appropriate gestures met with no success either, so Lieutenant-Commander Macdonald, who had a working knowledge of French, was called in to interpret. There were seven fish on the string, five being very like trevalli, the others being strangers of a bright cardinal red, and the native assured them that they were all good to eat. He asked for tobacco and biscuits in return. These were produced, and he went over the side laden and beaming. It was only with great difficulty that a wire-haired terrier, part of the Port Gisborne’s cargo, was restrained from sampling his calves as he walked along the deck, however. Meanwhile crew and passengers were exchanging garment and tobacco for gourds and a mess of ground taro root wrapped in palm leaves. There was nothing else in the boat save one orange. The motor-ship’s voyage was resumed after a stop of 28 minutes, and as the natives sheered off they shouted a farewell, to which the ship’s crew and passengers replied with three cheers in the customary fashion. When last seen the boat was being pulled energetically towards the island, which was only dimly visible through a mist.