TOTAL LOSS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 146, 22 June 1937, Page 7

TOTAL LOSS

Burns Philp Auxiliary Schooner Makoa WRECKED IN PHOENIX GROUP (By Telegraph—Pres* Association—Copyright, Received June 21, 11.27 p.m. APIA, June 20. The auxiliary schooner Makoa, owned by the Burns Philp Company, is a total wreck at Hull Island in the Phoenix Group. No lives have been lost and the crew &nd labourers are all ashore and well, with sufficient food anti waler. The Makoa had been overdue for approximately three weeks. • The Burns Philp Company, through an agent of the Union Steam Ship Company, asked the Monowai, which left Suva last Friday, to call at Hull Island and report. To-day the following message was received from the master of the Monowai: “The Makoa is a total wreck at Hull Island. No lives have been lost.”

This message was passed on to H.M.S. Wellington, er. route from the Union Group to Apia, and the commander then despatched the following message to the master of the Monowai: “Please state or. what part of Hull Island the Makoa is wrecked, what assistance you rendered and if any more is required. What is the probable period the Makoa’s crew can live on the present stores and water?”

The master of the Monowai replied: “The Makoa wrecked at the settlement on the north-west coast. The vessel is a total loss, only the ribs remaining. The crew will probably have plenty of stores, as Burns Philp have a copra plantation there. The Makoa was apparently landing stores or loading copra when she was wrecked. The crew did not want any assistance or stores from me, so apparently are well supplied. They told me they expected a warship in a few days. All are well.”

The Burns Philp Company has since arranged with the Union Company for the Niagara, passing Hull Island south-bound to-mouow, to pick up the crew and take them to Suva. The Makoa had just completed a thorough and extensive overhaul at Apia and Suva and this was her first trip out since then.