Popularity of South Pacific Cruises.

THE increasing popularity of short holiday cruises from Sydney by pal atial overseas liners has prompted the shipping companies of other nations to follow suit.

Messageries Maritimes, Ltd., an nounces a cruise by the motor liner “Eridan” on April 28. This vessel is well-known in the Australia-Marseilles- Dunkirk service and will take about 100 passengers for a 10-day cruise, two days of which will be spent in Noumea.

While Port Moresby is making a bid for popularity as a tourist centre, Nou mea still seems to be the drawcard. The P. and O. time-tables include a cruise to Noumea in April by the “Narkunda” and another by the “Mooltan” in July, as well as two cruises to Papua, one by the “Maloja” in June and another by the “Strathaird” in August.

A cruise to Noumea will be under taken by the Orient liner “Oronsay” at Easter. The “Otranto,” of the same line, will go to New Guinea and possibly on to the New Hebrides in June, and the “Oronsay” will again make a cruise in August, but this time to New Guinea.

When the Cunard liner “Carinthia” calls at Sydney on her world cruise, Australian tourists will join her for the remainder of the voyage. This will be the first time that any of these world tourist steamers has picked up passen gers at an Australian port for the con tinuation of the tour. The “Carinthia” will be followed closely by the new Mat son liner “Lurline,” which is making a world cruise as her maiden voyage.

Skilful handling of a 'plane by Lieu tenant Ray Parer prevented what might easily have been a crash at Wau on January 2. The 'plane, a Fokker, ar rived at Wau minus a part of its land ing gear, but, being handled in masterly fashion by Mr. Parer, made a good land . ing due to the ability of the pilot.

Orient Liner Oronsay Entering Noumea Harbour.

-Photo by courtesy of “Church Standard."