VERONICA S CRUISE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 244, 15 October 1931, Page 5

VERONICA S CRUISE

SOUTH SEA ISLANDS GAMES WITH THE NATIVES LIGHTER SIDE OF CRICKET. The cruise of the sloop Veronica among the South Sea Islands gave the ship’s company an excellent opportunity to study native life, an opportunity of which few failed to take advantage. The Veronica returned to Auckland on Sunday afternoon after an absence of nearly four months, and the men brought back with them plenty of souvenirs, many of which no doubt will be taken to England, as the majority of the men are to be paid off and leave for Home by the Rangitiki on November 7.

Sports now figure largely in the life of the natives, and teams from the warship met them at football and cricket, and the natives proved themselves a match for the sailors. “Give them a chance,” said an officer, “and the natives will play games day in and day out. Restrictions have to be placed on them or they would be at it all the time.” At Vavau a cricket team from the Venorica played a native team. The natives won, but it was scarcely the fault of their opponents. When the Veronica’s team was batting the villagers swarmed out to field for their side.

The cricket ground is on the side of a hill. When the natives batted many of their shots found the coconut trees and the search for the ball often allowed them time to make about 20 runs. Once the ball lodged at the top of a tree, which a small boy had to scale before the game could be continued. A man from the Veronica was scoring and would allow only six runs for such mishaps, otherwise the score might have been anything. A Large Family. The Veronica visited the small atoll of Palmerston, the population of which consists largely of a family named Masters. The original Masters was a trader who settled there 80 years ago or more with his native wives. The fam. y has grown to such an extent tha‘. they are now at a loss for new Christian names, and in some instances the names of household articles have been resorted to.

The atoll is a barren and bleak place, and the family, numbering now about 100 live entirely on fish and coconuts. Fishing is the principal occupation. Evidently having heard of the Veronica’s intended visit from some trading schooner, the Masters family had exerted themselves and prepared articles which they thought would be acceptable, such as mats with the name Veronica woven into them.

Football, hockey and cricket w’ere played at Tonga, mostly against native teams. Playing Association football against the natives at Somo Somo, the Veronica’s team won one game and lostho other, the scores in both games being 2 goals to 1. The natives played without boots and proved very good at the game. The visit was the first paid to Somo Somo for six or seven years, and the ship’s company was well entertained, there being excellent pig shooting and fishing. The first impression of the place was a poor one. The island is uncharted and was approached in a blind, ing tropical rainstorm. Later ir was found to be a delightful place.

The Veronica’s company has always had a kindly impression of Levuka, probably from the pleasant associations of some past crew of the warship with the town. A successful dance was given there on shore bv the ship’s company. Hockey was played at Levuka and Suva against teams of Europeins, the teams consisting of both men and women players. Interest was taken in Suva in the meke, a form of native festivity, which was found to be fairly entertaining. Distinguished Passengers Carried. From Apia the Veronica took the Administrator of Western Samoa, Mr. H. E. Hart, on a visit to the Tokelau group, and later took him on a visit to the American Governor of Eastern Samoa at Pago Pago. The Veronica took Bishop Kempthorne Bishop of Polynesia, over a part of his diocese and to Suva. Another service performed by the ship was to take Judge Ayson, resident commissioner at Rarotonga, to Mangaia. On October 2 the warship left Suva foi Nukualofa with Mr. Justice Maxwell Anderson, Chief Justice of Fiji and Judicial Commissioner for the Western Pacific.

The commander of the Veronici is Commander H. L. Morgan and the offi eers are Lieutenant-Commander R. C. D. Grimes, Lieutenant S. J. Warrand, Snr geon-Commander R. McVicker ani Sub. Lieutenant B. Vesey.

Commissioned-Gunner E. J. A. Gble is to be relieved by Acting-Gunner Bald, who is to arrive in New Zealand by the Ruahine on November I. War rant-Engineer B. G. Clvnick has been relieved by Warrant-Engineer Gilderson.