LAUNCHING "LOLITA"

Dozerdust, Volume 2, Issue 18, 20 May 1944, Page 7

LAUNCHING "LOLITA"

« LOLITA » was ( note past tense ) the pride of Alan Chapman, Bill Charleton, Bob sil User oft, Rupert Robbio, ” Panhandle ” Johnstone, Arthur Ward and Lieut. Marshall - and several others. tut SHE was a trim craft of sixteen feet, painted white, sleek lines and a auxiliary motor o But her temperament was uncertainJ her career a chequered one and her trimness deceptive. lit ONCE she lost her bottom? once she was washed away; several times she just sank* .But it was at the launching sho, displayed a petulance that left her makes shamed, sit ALL was ready for the big event on the Bourail river* Onlookers of all nationalities lined the river banks for the fame of the Kiwi boatbuilders had gone abroad« Kanakas arid high ranking officer vied with all and sundry for the first commoricial trip.::: AFTER tinkering and last minute tieing with ’’’ire and string, the motor kicked over with a w hirr and " Lolita 11 shot backwards up the river, Rupert Robbie almost swalloed his pipe, I'ho language of the crew is still unprintable, the 'craft - woll. we draw tho story to a close. But she looked good •

WORKS SERVICE ENGINEERS COMPLETE FIRST YEAR OF ACTIVITIES? (Cont from MBS. J’)

trucks nnd oct off on the hundred Odd mile trip. The drizzling ram Which commenced in the early afterao noon, became a downpour by the time the party arrived at the present site where the ” Advance Party ” had tents up and a good meal readyt The following extract from a diary gives the impressions of one member the following morning.

” , A sleepless night. The roll of the ship was with me all night. The other chaps say they felt the same way. Before I got to bed last night, the , mosquitoes opened their offensive. Most of us have well bitten arms

through being too close to the not. It was not until after breakfast this morning that we realised— __ how fortunate we were on our arrival to find the tents up and'a good hot meal ready for us, We learnt that it ws« not until Friday afternoon - v that Major West, 00 of thd * i? Advance Party ’ learnt of our impending arrival, and had to g® like a

scalded cat to gut tent and have everything ready for us. It was a good bit of work. Judging by the jokes and humour of members of the ’Advance Party 1 , they have been a' pretty happy crowd since their arrival. ”

FIRST JOBS.

APART from preparations in the camp such as the erection of the mess and other local necessities, the first job' was th: erection of a CRT Store. Naioulis had to be cleared from the present site, a road made and a good deal of levelling done. This completed other jobs followed in quick succession. Construction and thatching of bures f>rPay and Records in BRD, roads thrc-ugh-EID, further warehouses .ait BOD and DOW. A working party ws soon under way at 11. Z. Transit Camp, Noumea on the construction . of

huts-and other buildings under Lieut.. Mann, Works-Officer. Surveys of

present site of Con, Depot v/ejre carried .out; earlgr in August a party left for Dumbea Valley to survey site for 4th.* N.Z.Gen. Hosp.