Examined by Fiji Governor

Mysterious Sampan

From Our Own Correspondent.

SUVA, July 31. r TVHE Fijian authorities made interesting *- contact with a Japanese vessel the other day.

The Acting-Governor (Mr. J. Barton) was on a visit of inspection on the Gov ernment vessel Pioneer, off the north coast of Vanua Levu, when a craft of peculiar appearance was observed, making for the reef near Labasa.

The Pioneer headed for the stranger, which thereupon turned and fled. The Pioneer dug up 12 knots from her reper toire and slowly overtook the foreigner, and signalled her to hoist her colours.

The stranger hoisted the Japanese flag.

The Pioneer ordered her to stop for exam ination. The stranger did not stop until it was plain that the Pioneer was over hauling her and was ostentatiously re moving the tarpaulin from her signalling guns. Then she lay to.

There was an officer of marines on the Pioneer; and he took a party aboard the sampan, and brought the Japanese cap tain and engineer on to the Government vessel for interrogation. Little was learned of the object of the sampan’s presence in those waters.

The sampan was about 100 feet long, and had powerful Diesel engines. She carried 28 men (which was regarded as excessive) and about 5000 gallons of oil.

She had evidently called somewhere along the coast, as freshly-cut bunches of bananas were noticed aboard.

The object of the sampan cruising in

Fijian waters is the subject of speculation.

She may have been seeking trochus-shell, but there was no indication of it.

The Pioneer could find nothing of an illegal character about the sampan; and, as she was then outside of territorial waters, she was not further delayed.

Since the report that the Pioneer sighted this vessel, word has been brought to Suva by the master of a cutter that he saw what is thought to be the same sam pan, apparently engaged in diving for shell off Udu Point. He stated that after the Pianeer left, the vessel returned near the coast and started diving. Later the Japanese boat worked down the coast and was last seen at the island of Kia, which is off the coast near Labasa.

A Chinese storekeeper at Udu Point said that the diving gear used consisted only of a head dress and goggles.