"Joseph Conrad" at Tulagi

From a Special Correspondent.

Tulagi, Nov. 28.

THE staid and sober citizens of Tulagi, Solomon Islands —all citizens were strictly sober early in November, some malevolent person in Sydney having with held an entire consignment of beer— glanced sleepily out over the harbour one morning, pondering dejectedly on the hardships and privations suffered by those whose lot it was to keep the flag flying at the outposts of Empire.

They awoke with a start, rubbed their eyes incredulously, and stared at the placid ocean as though it were a pheno menon that had sprung up in the night.

A three-masted, full-rigged ship in the bay, and flying the red ensign! Why, the species became extinct ages ago!

A prosaic report in curt, nautical lan guage put an end to hopes of beer, and allayed curiosity. The “Joseph Conrad,”

Alan Villiers master, ninety days out from Singapore, and on a world cruise with cadets in training.

Tulagi opened its doors and hearts to the young sea-dogs; feted them, tested them out at cricket, and showered hos pitality upon them. Particularly did it throw its arms around (or try to) the two youngest members of the ship’s com pany, 14 and 16 years of age respectively, who rejoiced in, and will answer to no other names than Stormalong and Hard case.

Captain Villiers is the well-known Australian voyager, author and journalist, whose voyages round the Horn in wind jammers are so graphically described in his books “Falmouth for Orders” and “The Grain Race.”

The present voyage, which will be the

subject of a book when England is reached, began inauspiciously. Arriving safely off New York after a tempestuous North Atlantic crossing, the “Joseph Con rad” was blown ashore from her moor ings, and sustained considerable damage.

Repaired and refitted, the vessel pro ceeded on her interrupted voyage, carry ing in her complement cadets of half a dozen nations. Alternately beset by calms and tempest in the course of many months at sea, the Solomons presented a welcome landfall, and a week’s stay in port was appreciated by all hands.

Link With “Lawrence Of Arabia”

Captain Villiers, a Tasmanian by birth, tells sorrowfully that his friend, T. E.

Shaw, was to accompany him on this voyage, to engage in literary work in the peace of life afloat. Almost at the last moment something caused him to change his* mind; and, on arriving at Singapore, Captain Villiers learned the sad tidings that Mr. Shaw, that mystic, intriguing figure so much better known as “Law rence of Arabia,” had departed alone on the last long voyage of all.