Sailor

Search For A Lost

From Our Own Correspondent.

PAPEETE, August 4.

AN incident, which might easily have had a more serious termination, oc curred during the stay of H.M.N.Z.S.

Dunedin at the island of Borabora, Lee ward Group. One of the ship’s petty officers, an ardent mountain climber, found his ambition stirred afresh by the sight of the fantastic peaks which have never yet been scaled and which, as every old timer knows, provide nothing but an extremely treacherous and crumbly foot hold for the unwary mountaineer.

He set out early in the morning and when night came was missing. A search was at once instituted by the natives of the island, assisted by Captain Mourral and men of the French naval schooner Zeelee, which had been sent to Borabora with a message of welcome to Commodore Drummond from His Excellency Governor Sautot. "A party of men from the Dunedin also took part in the search, and the island was flooded by searchlights.

Some 36 hours elapsed, however, before the missing bluejacket was finally located in a crevice from which he was unable to extricate himself, or make any sort of signal which could be observed from the ship. Fortunately his injuries proved to be very slight.

H.M.N.Z.S. Dunedin called in at the island of Tahaa and then proceeded to Moorea where she anchored in Oponohu Bay on August 2. There a lively native party was provided for the officers at the home of Mr. and Mrs. L. Phillips. The Dunedin is expected in Papeete in August 6.