Maopa Missing

Believed Wrecked Near Labasa

’Plane Search Fails

THE auxiliary ketch, Maopa, owned by Burns, Philp (South Sea) Co.

Ltd., which sailed from Labasa, Fiji, on May 13 for Lautoka, loaded with a cargo of logs, is reported miss ing.

The trip between these ports should have occupied about two days, but, so far no sign of the vessel, crew or cargo has been seen, except that at the end of last month, Captain Giblin, of the Yasawas, reported that one of his “boys” had found a drum of fuel oil and a gallon tin of lubricant, the brands of which were the same as those carried by the missing vessel.

A search by Captain Fenton, in his ’plane, along the various coastlines and over all northern reefs, has failed to reveal any trace of the wreckage or the ketch.

The personnel of the Maopa is Cap tain Anasa, with six Fijians, and one European, Mr. Swann, the engineer.

The ketch recently came down from the Solomon Islands under Captain Culloden, who had the most difficult task of bringing her to Fiji owing to bad weather, which smashed the bul warks and broke the topmast, necessi tating a return to Tulagi. Later she was forced to shelter under Tanna, and then run into Port Vila. Besides, this, owing to a leak, the tank caught fire and nearly ended things for all; only the plucky conduct of the engineer and all hands saved the boat on that occa sion.

It is now believed that the Maopa has foundered, as she had very heavy seas after leaving Labasa, with a semi gale. Logs are an awkward cargo to handle in rough weather.

Two missionaries, recently from the New Hebrides, told the Sydney press of tribal customs still practised on Malekula. These include the burying of children alive and cannibalism. Mo thers frankly admitted that they had killed their children by burying them alive when they became a nuisance.

The missionaries discovered that canni balism. which was involved in the tra ditional rites of tribes was also prac tised, though it was confined to a few occasions when there was no white surveillance.