Patrol Boat For North
p. 56 · Read in the full issue
A NEW patrol boat for the north arrived from England in March, and has undergone successful trials in Sydney Harbour. It will be stationed at Darwin to patrol the Timor Sea in co-operation with the Darwin-Singapore air mail ser vice.
The launch is 45ft. long, with three 100horse power petrol engines. It is equipped with w'ireless, and has a cruising speed of 19 knots an hour, with a maximum of 26 knots. Complete with spares, the boat cost £6,000 f.o.b. London.
Sydney firms have examined the patrol launch to see if they could build similar vessels. The type of boats which are to operate from Thursday Island and New Guinea will be considered on the exper ience of the English launch.
Mr. F. N. Ashley, Resident Commis sioner in the Solomons Islands, arrived in Sydney by the Malaita on March 27, with his wife and daughter, Marjorie. They left the following day for Melbourne by the Merkur to join the liner Oronsay for England. Mr. and Mrs. Ashley will return to Tulagi from England at the end of the year, leaving Miss Ashley with her grand mother at Surrey,