UNIQUE CRUISE MADE BY HINEMOA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17863, 3 June 1926, Page 9

UNIQUE CRUISE MADE BY HINEMOA.

SIR MAUI POMARE RETURNS FROM ISLANDS. PRAISES DEVOTION OF NURSES AT MAKOGAI. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 3, When she entered the harbour this morning, the G.S. Hinemoa completed a cruise that is unique in even her long and interesting career. Leaving Auckland on April 30, she has on her long voyage of 35 days, covered a course which embraced the whole of the island groups in the Pacific under the jurisdiction of New Zealand, and also visited Fiji. Calls were made at Rarotonga, Man-, gaia, Mauke, Atiu and Aitutaki in the lower group, at Palmerston, Penryhn, Rakahanga, Manihiki and Pukapuka, in the northern group, at Apia in Western Samoa, and at Nakogai and Suva in the Fiji Group. The primary object of the cruise was the transfer of lepers in the Cook Islands to the fine leper asylum maintained by the Fijian Government at Makogai. This humane work was carried out under the personal direction of the Minister for the Cook Islands, the Hon. Sir Maui Pomare. The official party accompanying the Minister comprised Dr Ellison, Chief Medical Officer at Rarotonga, Judge Ayson, the Resident Commissioner, Mr J. D. Gray, Secretary to the Department, and’ Mr A. J. Conway, private secretary to the Minister. Interviewed by a “Star” representative upon his return, Sir Maui Pomare gave some very interesting particulars of the trip. “I preceded the Hinemoa to Raratonga,” said Sir Maui, “having been delegated by the Government ‘to represent them at the reception given to their Excellencies Sir Charles and Lady Alice Fergusson, on the occasion of the first official visit of the Gov-ernor-General to the Cook Islands. I was accompanied by Lad\* Pomare and Miss Pomare, who are still in Rarotonga. We had a very pleasant week there. The weather during the stay of the Vice-Regal party was ideal. All sections of the people took full advantage of it to give their Excellencies a thoroughly royal time. Arikis and native people of each district arranged special welcomes and showered lavish hospitality and gifts on their guests, nor were the European residents behind in their loyal and enthusiastic welcome and in fully co-operating with their Polynesian friends in suitably entertaining their Excellencies. I was greatlj' pleased at the manner in which all sections of the community combined to make the visit a memorable one. The spirit of understanding and goodwill and cordial co-operation which I found pervading the relations between the officials, natives and Europeans during my visit three years ago has now become widespread and this warm good fellowship, so amply demonstrated during the Vice-Regal visit, is, I think, the happiest augury we have for the future welfare and prosperity of the group. It is only fitting at this stage to express my high admiration of the wdrk of Judge Ayson and his fellow officials, as it is largely due to them that this new and happier spirit pervades the relations between all sections in the group.” The day after the G.S. Tutanekai, with their Excellencies on board, left Rarotonga, the G.S. Hinemoa with Sir Maui and party left for Mangaia, which was her first port of call. From there she proceeded to the various islands mentioned above. The work of transferring the leper patients to Makogai was carried out without incident. “We were able to adhere without material alteration to our itinerary. Our patients were comfortably housed in special accommodation which was dismantled and discharged with them at Makogai. We were fortunate in having perfect weather right throughout the cruise, although as we left the different islands there were many touching and pathetic scenes as the islanders farewelled their afflicted relatives and friends. I was impressed bv the eagerness with which the patients themselves welcomed the opportunity to get to Makogai, where, as I explained to them#* they had every prospect of cure. At none of the islands was there any reluctance to come forward. On the contrary quite a number of people, who believed they were infected, submitted themselves voluntarily for medical examination. The same feeling of hopefulness was in evidence when we said good-bye to our patients upon their disembarkation at Makogai.” The G.S. Hinemoa got to Makogai on May 27 and Sir Maui Pomare thorough--1 lv inspected the quarters for the patients for whom New Zealand accepts responsibility, namely those from New Zealand, Samoa, Niue and the Cook Group. lie found everything quite satisfactory and the patients happy and contented and making steady progress towards recovery. “Nature has bestowed her gifts with a lavish hand upon this beautffu! island of Makogai?’ said the Minister. “I am satisfied that the leper asylum can be made an absolute paradise for these sorely afflicted people to live in during their treatment. I feel sure that the people of New Zealand will welcome the opportunity of co-operat-ing with the Imperial and Fiji Governments in making this station, a credit to British administration in the Pacific. My views and suggestions on this subject will be embodied in a report I am preparing for Cabinet.” An up-to-date cinema machine, with films and some tbns of pictorial literature presented by the public of New Zealand, was landed from the G.S. Hinemoa and was greatly appreciated by the staff. Sir Maui pays a great tribute to the work of the Medical Superintendent, to the Rev. Mother and Sisters of the Roman Catholic French Mission, their devotion to duty being beyond all praise. Unfortunately there is no building suitable for cinema exhibitions and for similar entertainments. Sir Maui hopes that the people of New Zealand will generously respond to the appeal he will make for funds to provide a hall for this purpose. It will not cost a great deal and Sir Maui feels sure that few causes could appeal with greater force to the charity and humanity of New Zealanders.